Pyramid Schemes Vs Ponzi Scheme

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Ponzi schemes and Pyramid schemes are two types of investment fraud. According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud where organizers promise a high rate of return with little or no risk, gaining a constant flow of new investors. They continue the scheme using the new funds to pay off the earlier investors accounts. Pyramid scheme make money by recruiting new participants. The scheme promises high returns in a short period of time for the more people you get involved. Each tier pays the tier both them and in turn is paid by the tier below them. (U.S. SEC, n.d.) Both Ponzi scheme and Pyramid Scheme use the hook of high investment returns with little or no risk by simply handing over your money. Often with Ponzi schemes, the investment does not exist or only a small percentage of incoming funds are actually invested if any. Pyramid schemes on the other hand use the chance to earn high profits by making one payment and finding others to become distributors of a product to hook investors. The scheme typically does not involve a genuine product. The purported product may not exist or it may be "sold" only to other people who also become distributors. (U.S. SEC, n.d.) …show more content…

With Ponzi schemes there is no recruiting necessary to receive payments. For Pyramid schemes investors must pay a one-time or recurring participation fee and recruit new distributors to receive their own payments. Another way that Pyramid schemes differ from Ponzi schemes is in the way that they interact with original promoter; pyramid schemes will sometimes have no interaction with new participants who can enter the pyramid scheme at different tiers. While with Ponzi schemes interaction with original promoter generally happens with all participants. (U.S. SEC,

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