Püramiidiskeemis

Püramiidiskeemis, also known as a pyramid scheme, is a fraudulent investment operation that pays initial investors with money collected from later investors. The structure is unsustainable because it requires a constant stream of new investors to remain viable. The scheme typically promises high rates of return with little risk, but the vast majority of participants lose their money.

The core characteristic of a pyramid scheme is its reliance on recruitment. Participants are encouraged to recruit new members, and they receive a commission or fee for each new person they bring in. This commission structure is often tiered, with higher levels earning more from those recruited below them, hence the "pyramid" shape. The product or service offered, if any, is often of little value or is overpriced, serving primarily as a cover for the recruitment-based revenue model.

Legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses, while also involving recruitment, focus on selling actual products or services to end consumers. In a legitimate MLM, the primary source of income is sales to customers outside the network, not just recruitment fees from new participants. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, collapse when recruitment slows down, as there isn't enough new money to pay existing investors. Authorities worldwide consider pyramid schemes illegal due to their inherent fraudulent nature.