Ponzi

[ pon-zee ]

noun

1. a swindle in which a quick return, made up of money from new investors, on an initial investment lures the victim into much bigger risks.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ponzi¹

After Charles Ponzi (died 1949), the organizer of such a scheme in the U.S., 1919–20

Example Sentences

Hardly a reassuring forecast coming from a former casino croupier and Ponzi scheme salesman.

From The Daily Beast

Squaring perfectly with the defense, Madoff insisted that he alone knew he was running a Ponzi scheme.

From The Daily Beast

Had he any remorse, he would have implicated those who conspired with him to commit the greatest Ponzi scheme in history.

From The Daily Beast

The Ponzi king is now saying J.P. Morgan executives suspected he was up to no good before his massive fraud was exposed.

From The Daily Beast

When Suzanne Somers called Obamacare a socialized ponzi scheme, critics swiftly ripped apart her argument.

From The Daily Beast

This Sowles is the worst mountebank since Charlie Ponzi, and you know it.

From Project Gutenberg