Pyramid Scheme
A pyramid scheme is a business model that is based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of people to participate in an investment. In the most common form of pyramid scheme, participants pay a fee to join and then recruit others to join, who in turn recruit others and so on. The fees from new recruits are then passed up to the original members who recruited them.
Pyramid schemes have been around for centuries, though they have evolved in recent years. They began as a hierarchy of investors where the top investor would receive a higher return than the bottom investor. This type of scheme has since been outlawed in most countries.
Modern pyramid schemes are often disguised as legitimate multilevel marketing (MLM) companies. These schemes often involve recruiting participants with promises of getting rich quick. Participants are encouraged to buy products or services to sell, and they are persuaded to buy more products in order to increase their level of success and make money.
The problem with these MLM schemes is that the majority of participants lose money. When recruiting new members, those at the top have already made profits from those lower down in the pyramid. Many of those lower down in the pyramid are greatly in debt because of the high cost of joining and the pressure to recruit more people. As the pyramid grows and more members are recruited, the burden on the lower members of the pyramid increases. Those at the top can make a great deal of money, but it is not ethical as the majority of participants lose money.
Pyramid schemes are considered illegal in many countries, including the United States. This is because they are based on unsustainable unsustainable business models that rely solely on the recruitment of new members. The schemes often fail and those at the bottom lose their money.
There are many types of investments out there and before making any decision it is important to educate yourself and thoroughly research any potential investment. Know the risks and rewards before committing any money. Make sure you understand that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never fall for the promise of “making money quickly” and avoid any business model that requires you to invest money in order to make money. Steer away from any company that requires you to invest more money than you are comfortable with and only invest if you are confident that the company is legitimate.