Ponzihuijaukset

Ponzihuijaukset, also known as Ponzi schemes, are fraudulent investment operations that promise high returns with little risk to investors. The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who was convicted in 1920 for a similar operation. In a Ponzi scheme, the operator pays returns to early investors with funds collected from new investors, rather than from legitimate investment activities. This creates an illusion of profitability and attracts more investors, who then become the source of funds for earlier investors.

The key characteristic of a Ponzi scheme is that it does not generate its own returns. Instead, it relies on a continuous influx of new investors to pay off earlier investors. This is unsustainable in the long term, as the number of new investors eventually declines, leading to the collapse of the scheme. When a Ponzi scheme fails, investors typically lose all their invested capital, and the operator disappears with the remaining funds.

Ponzi schemes can take various forms, including pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing, and Ponzi games. They are often marketed with exaggerated promises of high returns and low risk, making them appealing to unsophisticated investors. To avoid falling victim to a Ponzi scheme, it is essential to conduct thorough research, seek professional advice, and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true.