Ahhh, the old double scheme. Snyds employs people like your buddy purely for subterfuge. Your buddy runs around town claiming a dearth of schemes while Snyd flips through his scheme filled rolodex.
"Hey Del, you remember the old scheme #472?"
"Of course I remember it, that scheme got 3 coaches fired."
"That's the one old chap, and we're bringing it back!"