Ponzi Scheme

A classic contrick that has been repeated many times both before and since Charles( Carlo) Ponzi gave it its name in the 1920s. The scheme begins with a crook setting up as a deposit taking institution. The crook invites the public to place deposits with the institution, and offers them a generous rate of interest. The interest is then paid out of new depositors’ money, and the crook lives well off the old deposits.The whole scheme collapses when there are not enough new deposits coming in to cover the interest payment due on the old ones. By that time the modern day Ponzi hopes to be living under an alias in a hot country with few extradition laws.