The airplane game, also known as the plane game, is a style of pyramid scheme first recorded in the 1980s in North America and later Western Europe.
The "Captain" (blue) is paid when 8 "passengers" have arrived at the bottom of the pyramid. (Below the Captain are two "Co-Pilots", below them four "Crew".)
The common version of the system involved joining an "airplane" by paying a "pilot" to become one of eight "passengers".[1][2] Passengers who started at the fourth step paid to join. Already on the airplane were four "flight attendants" who were a step ahead, and two "co-pilots" next in line behind the pilot. Once a pilot collected $12,000 from passengers to retire, the group split into two "airplanes", with each co-pilot becoming the pilot of the new airplane, taking half the participants and promoting everyone a level. Bringing in new passengers sped up everyone's progression towards retiring as a pilot.[1] However, the structure of the scheme results in a participant losing the entire payment unless 14 new participants join.[2]
The scheme had spread from New York to Texas to California then South Florida by early 1987,[2] with police raiding meetings in all four states,[3][1][2][4] and reports of more airplane schemes operating in Dallas.[4] In Miami-Dade County, Florida, at least one recruiting session was reported with 1,000 attendees.[2] Though common versions at the time required passengers to pay $1,500 to receive $12,000 as a pilot,[1][2][4] some airplanes were being run with $5,000 passengers and a $40,000 pilot payout.[2]
Other namesedit
The scheme has also gone by the names Concorde and Golden Galaxy with similar names for the steps. Cash Club, Victoria operated in the same way but with different amounts and the steps renamed to "club member", "committee member", "vice-president", and "president". "Krona Klub" was a similar scheme with more complex payout rules, as was a so-called game variously called "Cosmic Adventure", "Flying Saucer", or "Flying Starship".[5]
The payout structure of the 2021 "Blessing Loom" program (left) is functionally identical to the 1980s airplane scheme
The scheme resurfaced in 2020, conducted over Instagram and other social media platforms, going by a variety of names including Blessing Loom,[6]Loom Game,[7]Wheel,[8][non-primary source needed] Gift of Legacy, and The Prosperity Grid in South Africa.
In 2022, after receiving several complaints from the public, South Africa's Financial Sector Conduct Authority released an official warning to the public regarding The Prosperity Grid, saying that although it resembled a traditional stokvel savings scheme, they considered its structure to be a pyramid scheme.[9] Because pyramid schemes fall outside of the jurisdiction of the FSCA, the matter has been referred to other relevant regulators and authorities.
Referencesedit
^ abcdNeuffer, Elizabeth (April 7, 1987). "'Airplane': High-Stakes Chain Letter". The New York Times (National ed.). p. B7. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ abcdefgEnscoe, David (March 26, 1987). . Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2018. Published in print edition as "'Plane Game' taking many for a big ride".
^ abc"Police Clip Wings of 'Airplane Game' : Arrest Four Alleged Promoters of Version of Pyramid Scheme". Los Angeles Times (online ed.). March 19, 1987. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^Branscum, Bill E. (2002). "Pyramid Scheme: Real Scams for Your Study and Review". FraudsAndScams.com. Naples, Florida. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^"Prosper DJ and wife accused of scamming Black people nationwide out of 'tens of millions' in 'blessing loom' pyramid scheme". Dallas News. June 17, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
^Toromade, Samson (May 8, 2019). "Nigerians welcome Loom, another Ponzi scheme, with open arms". pulse.ng. Pulse. from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
^"Reddit.com /r/antiMLM "Just because you call it a wheel doesn't mean it's not a pyramid scheme."". Reddit.com /r/antiMLM. April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^"FSCA issues public warning against The Prosperity Grid" (PDF). FSCA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
External linksedit
Linda Rosewood Hooper. "The Pyramid Game: It's a Lie, It's a Scam, and It Won't Work". Linda Rosewood Hooper: Writings (personal website). Santa Cruz, California: University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved April 10, 2017. Originally written in Spring 1993.
January 01, 1970
airplane, game, airplane, game, also, known, plane, game, style, pyramid, scheme, first, recorded, 1980s, north, america, later, western, europe, captain, blue, paid, when, passengers, have, arrived, bottom, pyramid, below, captain, pilots, below, them, four, . The airplane game also known as the plane game is a style of pyramid scheme first recorded in the 1980s in North America and later Western Europe The Captain blue is paid when 8 passengers have arrived at the bottom of the pyramid Below the Captain are two Co Pilots below them four Crew The common version of the system involved joining an airplane by paying a pilot to become one of eight passengers 1 2 Passengers who started at the fourth step paid to join Already on the airplane were four flight attendants who were a step ahead and two co pilots next in line behind the pilot Once a pilot collected 12 000 from passengers to retire the group split into two airplanes with each co pilot becoming the pilot of the new airplane taking half the participants and promoting everyone a level Bringing in new passengers sped up everyone s progression towards retiring as a pilot 1 However the structure of the scheme results in a participant losing the entire payment unless 14 new participants join 2 The scheme had spread from New York to Texas to California then South Florida by early 1987 2 with police raiding meetings in all four states 3 1 2 4 and reports of more airplane schemes operating in Dallas 4 In Miami Dade County Florida at least one recruiting session was reported with 1 000 attendees 2 Though common versions at the time required passengers to pay 1 500 to receive 12 000 as a pilot 1 2 4 some airplanes were being run with 5 000 passengers and a 40 000 pilot payout 2 Other names editThe scheme has also gone by the names Concorde and Golden Galaxy with similar names for the steps Cash Club Victoria operated in the same way but with different amounts and the steps renamed to club member committee member vice president and president Krona Klub was a similar scheme with more complex payout rules as was a so called game variously called Cosmic Adventure Flying Saucer or Flying Starship 5 nbsp The payout structure of the 2021 Blessing Loom program left is functionally identical to the 1980s airplane scheme The scheme resurfaced in 2020 conducted over Instagram and other social media platforms going by a variety of names including Blessing Loom 6 Loom Game 7 Wheel 8 non primary source needed Gift of Legacy and The Prosperity Grid in South Africa In 2022 after receiving several complaints from the public South Africa s Financial Sector Conduct Authority released an official warning to the public regarding The Prosperity Grid saying that although it resembled a traditional stokvel savings scheme they considered its structure to be a pyramid scheme 9 Because pyramid schemes fall outside of the jurisdiction of the FSCA the matter has been referred to other relevant regulators and authorities References edit a b c d Neuffer Elizabeth April 7 1987 Airplane High Stakes Chain Letter The New York Times National ed p B7 Retrieved April 10 2018 a b c d e f g Enscoe David March 26 1987 Pyramid Scheme Takes Off Thousands Invest In Plane Game Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on July 19 2017 Retrieved April 10 2018 Published in print edition as Plane Game taking many for a big ride Pyramid Scheme Grounded Houston Chronicle October 31 1986 a b c Police Clip Wings of Airplane Game Arrest Four Alleged Promoters of Version of Pyramid Scheme Los Angeles Times online ed March 19 1987 Retrieved April 10 2018 Branscum Bill E 2002 Pyramid Scheme Real Scams for Your Study and Review FraudsAndScams com Naples Florida Retrieved April 10 2018 Prosper DJ and wife accused of scamming Black people nationwide out of tens of millions in blessing loom pyramid scheme Dallas News June 17 2021 Retrieved July 4 2021 Toromade Samson May 8 2019 Nigerians welcome Loom another Ponzi scheme with open arms pulse ng Pulse Archived from the original on August 27 2021 Retrieved August 26 2021 Reddit com r antiMLM Just because you call it a wheel doesn t mean it s not a pyramid scheme Reddit com r antiMLM April 18 2020 Retrieved April 21 2020 FSCA issues public warning against The Prosperity Grid PDF FSCA Retrieved July 1 2023 External links editLinda Rosewood Hooper The Pyramid Game It s a Lie It s a Scam and It Won t Work Linda Rosewood Hooper Writings personal website Santa Cruz California University of California Santa Cruz Retrieved April 10 2017 Originally written in Spring 1993 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airplane game amp oldid 1186841782, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
