You must have gotten a call or an email once in your life asking you to pay a small entry fee to become a part of a business. In case you end up paying the money, you would be asked to get 10 more people like you to pay the entry fee, and the cycle goes on. This is a Pyramid Scheme.

To understand how does a pyramid schemes work, you first need to understand their structure: a pyramid. The scam begins with a single person or entity at the top—let's call him Mike. Mike then recruits people under him, promising them substantial returns on their investments. In our scenario, Mike recruits 10 individuals who pay him a fee to partake in this seemingly lucrative venture.

These 10 recruits are then encouraged to recruit their own 10 members each, creating a new layer of 100 individuals. This recruitment process continues, creating an ever-widening base for the pyramid. Each recruit must pay a fee to the person who recruited them, and a portion of these earnings moves upwards in the pyramid. Notably, the focus is primarily on recruiting new participants rather than selling a tangible product or service.

To the unsuspecting eye, the pyramid scheme can seem like a viable opportunity. Recruits may see early investors receiving significant cash returns, inciting them to recruit even more fervently. However, this influx of cash is a façade funded by the very recruits who believe they're going to profit.

In time, the pool of potential recruits dries up. When this happens, the pyramid crumbles, leaving the top-level individuals with significant wealth while the majority at the bottom lose their investments.

Types of Pyramid Schemes

Other than the fundamentals, there can be different types of Pyramid Schemes.

MLM Pyramid Scheme

Distributors in a multi-level marketing scheme can legitimately earn a profit from both their own and their recruits' product sales. Some pyramid schemes, however, disguise themselves as MLMs. Promoters boasting extraordinary earnings potential, placing more emphasis on recruitment than sales, and forcing people to join without full disclosure are all red flags.

Chain Emails

Another form of pyramid scheme is chain emails. These scams persuade individuals to donate money to people listed in an email. After donating, the individual is then instructed to add their name to the list and send the email to others in hopes that they, too, will donate.

Ponzi Schemes

Named after the infamous Charles Ponzi, Ponzi schemes are another type of pyramid scheme. Rather than a hierarchical structure, these scams promise high returns to investors based on a single initial investment. The returns are paid using new investors' money. An infamous example of a Ponzi scheme was orchestrated by Bernard Madoff, who duped many high-profile individuals into investing in his operation, ultimately costing his victims billions of dollars.

The Collapse of Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid schemes are innately unsustainable. Their existence relies heavily on the continual recruitment of new, paying participants. Once this pool dries up, the entire operation collapses.

As such, pyramid schemes cannot operate in the long term. Inevitably, people will lose their money. Even those who joined early and are high up in the scheme's hierarchy might lose their investments due to payment delays from lower-level recruits.

FAQs

How Do Pyramid Schemes Achieve Success?

The answer to 'How does a pyramid scheme work' is that pyramid schemes generate their success largely through deceit. The driving force of their operations relies on the founders and individuals who join at the earliest stages. These people artfully lure new members by making alluring promises of quick, substantial financial returns. These new members, excited by the prospects of high returns, pay a fee to join and are then encouraged to continue the cycle by recruiting even more paying members. The incoming funds from these new recruits flow upwards to enrich the founders and early participants. However, this model is inherently unsustainable. Once there are no more new recruits to bring in fresh funds, the pyramid scheme inevitably collapses.

Are Pyramid Schemes Considered Illegal in the United States?

The United States government prohibits market America pyramid schemes. Inducing or recruiting others to take part in such schemes is a criminal offense. Anyone convicted of this offense faces serious consequences, including up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

What is the Difference Between Ponzi from Pyramid Schemes?

While Ponzi and pyramid schemes may seem similar due to their fraudulent nature and promise of high returns, they operate differently. Ponzi schemes are often more transparent in their deception, requiring individuals to invest cash with the promise of impressive returns. These returns are paid from the funds brought in by subsequent investors.

On the other hand, pyramid schemes often disguise their true nature by appearing legitimate. To participate and earn income in a pyramid scheme and individuals are typically required to pay a fee and, in some cases, purchase products or services. The real emphasis, however, is placed on recruiting more individuals to sustain the operation.