Well, the issue is can I use any or all of these tactics to build up my mileage balance without running afoul or either the cc company or the law.

Outside of the scenario involving the gun, it would seem that most of the scenarios are legal, assuming you can line up a cooperative vendor. The last scenario, where the transactions are made up out of whole cloth, seems like it might be illegal. In fact, wasn't there someone who got busted for something similar to that recently?

Anyhow, if the cc companies in don't care where the business comes from, it might be worth my while to see what I can do. I was just wondering whether I would get a call from Diner's Club or whatever inquiring what I was doing with 13 plasma tv's or some such.