进击的巨人真人版剧情:Cult pyramid schemes still plaguing China - F...

Cult pyramid schemes still plaguing China
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Last night, in Anshan City, Northeast Liaoning Province, one of China’s iron and steel bases, the police stormed into a hideout for Pyramid selling scheme, called “small log cabin” by local residents. China outlaws the brainwashing scheme and launches constant crackdowns on the cult-like Pyramid selling, But the schemes continue to flourish, especially now during tough economic times and when wealth gap has been widening.
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A roundup of people alledged to be part of a military-style pyramid scheme. In Chinese pyramid schemes, victims often live in military-style barracks.
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"We can be friends, and we can offer you a good life," the woman said to the class filled with new investors.
If any were skeptical, they didn't show it. Next came the young man, neatly dressed wearing a tie. He stood at a chalkboard writing mathematical equations that he said explained how this formula for investing would make them all rich.
Then came the big promise -- if everyone followed the formula, they could make $36,000 a month. Some cheered, others gasped.
This is all standard for pyramid selling -- but in China, it takes on another twist.
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Often new members in the pyramid scheme are kept locked in semi-military style dormitories, isolated from the outside world and then inundated with promises of incredible returns on their investments.
"Pyramid selling is very good at brainwashing," said Li Xu, who runs a small volunteer group called the anti-Pyramid Selling Association.
Li should know. For about two years he was part of one such scheme.
"Lies become truth after being told for 1,000 times. They apply a semi-military closed management, which is very important. A new member, for example me, will be brainwashed and forbidden from contacting the outside world."
Pyramid selling was outlawed in China more than a decade ago, and in February of this year the government added a provision against the practice in the crime law, helping strengthen the authorities' fight against pyramid schemes.
In 2007, Chinese police uncovered the country's largest ever alleged on-line pyramid selling scheme, involving 170,000 people and 1.36 billion yuan (US$180 million).
The scheme, operated under the name of "Swiss Mutual Fund", required each investor to pay 8,000 yuan (US$1,052) and promised to pay back 400,000 yuan (US$52,000) in 30 months.