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What are Pyramid Schemes?
From: Susan Holmes
holmes@a1.police.upenn.edu
Subject: Pyramid Scams
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY
CRIME ALERT
APRIL 7, 1995
The University of Pennsylvania Division of Public Safety has received reports of faculty, staff and students receiving information concerning PYRAMID SCHEMES via electronic mail.
Pyramid schemes usually provide the following instructions:
- The new participant mails cash to the first five names on the list, starting at number one through five. The new participant also asks said persons to add his/her name and mailing address to their respective lists.
- The new participant then removes the name that appears as number one on the list; he/she moves the other nine names up one position and places his/her name and mailing address on the list.
- With the his/her name in the number ten position, the new participant then uploads the file to fifteen different bulletin boards.
The Division of Public Safety has notified Philadelphia Police Department's Major Crimes Unit of these reports and they are referring the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Similarly, we strongly recommend that you DO NOT PARTICIPATE in these pyramid schemes!
Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it is!!
Issued by: Lt. Susan Holmes #12
If you have any questions, please contact Special Services Department 898-4481 or 898-6600.
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