Ponzi scheme
noun
Pon·zi scheme ˈpän-zē- 
: an investment swindle in which some early investors are paid off with money put up by later ones in order to encourage more and bigger risks
Word History
Etymology
Charles Ponzi †1949 American (Italian-born) swindler
First Known Use
1920, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
Ponzi scheme
noun
Pon·zi scheme ˈpän-zē-ˌskēm
: an investment swindle in which early investors are paid with sums obtained from later ones in order to create the illusion of profitability
Ponzi schemes
noun
as in pyramid schemes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pyramid schemes
- shell games
- crosses
- fixes
- scams
- rackets
- bunkos
- cons
- frauds
- flimflams
- devices
- swindles
- thimblerigs
- hustles
- rip-offs
- three-card montes
- fiddles
- stings
- buncos
- stratagems
- schemes
- jigs
- wiles
- dodges
- sleights
- counterfeits
- hoaxes
- forgeries
- gimmicks
- fakes
- ploys
- tricks
- phonies
- phoneys
- shams
- humbug
