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Pyramid Scheme: A Ponzi Scheme

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What is Pyramid Scheme? As it name indicates, pyramid scheme is a business model that has structured of pyramid or “Top-Down” business model. It is based on hierarchical setup whereby; it is initiated by an individual or a company that starts recruiting people or investors with an offer of guaranteed high returns to attract more investors to invest. In pyramid scheme, the sale emphasizes building up the organization and the number of participants and not selling products to consumers. Each investor directly benefits, depending on how many new investors are recruited. Above picture describes how pyramid scheme works. Their business focus is more on recruiting new members and involves promises of large profits with minimal work where the vast majority of participants will lose money. The income will stop when recruitment is stop. Pyramid schemes are illegal and very risky 'get-rich-quick' schemes that can end up costing you a lot of money. ... What is Ponzi scheme Ponzi schemes named after the Charles Ponzi who is the famous Ponzi fraudster in 1920s but he was not the first who did this fraudulent investment. Since he was discovered in 1920, more than one hundred massive Ponzi schemes have been uncovered in the US. The Ponzi schemes …show more content…

Usually they will have sealed the deal with lucrative payments at least at first. The originator or promoter will build people’s confidence through promising risk-free investment that pays off over a very short period. The victims usually will receive the first payment or two as promised and that can build victim’s confidence and convince them of the investment’s legitimacy. There will always ‘initial success’ for the investor so that they will reinvest and increase their size of investment. The confidence of the victims will be used by the originator as a testimony to attract more investor to invest in the

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