A Colombian woman says she found an unusual way to make money: collecting gossip about her neighbors, documenting it in a notebook and selling the information to anyone willing to pay. According to her, the venture was so profitable that it enabled her to buy two homes.
Miryam, a retiree from the city of Armenia in central Colombia, said she spent years gathering details about her neighbors’ lives. Each morning, she would sit outside her home with a notebook, recording family disputes, affairs, personal conflicts and other neighborhood gossip. Her notes included names, dates and, in some cases, photographs.
Over time, Miryam realized that many of her neighbors were just as interested in the stories as she was. She decided to begin charging for access to her «archive.»
According to Miryam, routine gossip sold for between 5,000 and 10,000 Colombian pesos (about $1.5 to $3). More sensational stories commanded much higher prices. She said her most lucrative sale brought in 700,000 Colombian pesos for information about a man who allegedly cheated on his wife whenever she was out of town.
Miryam also claimed she profited from both sides of the situation. She said the man’s mistress first paid her to keep the affair secret, after which the man himself also paid her to remain silent.
