Modern Ponzi schemes often hide behind trusted communities, crypto hype, and promises of steady returns. Cheer-J-ane/Shutterstock
An average investor might hear the phrase “Ponzi scheme” and think of the late–2008 Bernie Madoff scandal: the Wall Street name, the Manhattan office, the air of old-money legitimacy. But in 2026, framing Ponzi schemes this way could be disastrous.
The modern Ponzi scheme might be pitched in a church hall, a military veteran network, a real estate investor group, a community center, or a WhatsApp investment club.
