We have never been short of ponzi schemes and that too innovative ones. These scams are not restricted to the usual asset classes; they have taken into their fold the animal world (the emu scam) and the plant kingdom (teak plantations).
The latest to hit us, the Saradha Chit fund scam, though, is relatively a less dramatic but equally painful story of people losing money to ponzi schemes.
Old wine new bottle
Whatever the nature of the scheme, the underlying story is always the same: promise of very high returns; such returns actually get paid initially; more investors are attracted by word of mouth; until new investments stop and the scheme crashes for want of fresh money to pay existing investors.
Why do these Ponzi schemes-turned-scams crop up time and again? Experts point to a lack of a widespread and formal financial and banking system. This may be true of the Saradha Chit Fund case where a number of people from town and villages, perhaps having little or no access to regular means of finance, put their hard earned money in the chit.
And yet, large cities do not lag behind either, when it comes to being conned by ponzi schemes. The fraudulent act by a Citibank relationship manager on high net worth clients including promoters of a large auto company as well as a venture capitalist was by no means due to poor financial channels.
Thus, it makes us believe that the promise of high returns can often times overpower simple financial wisdom. Needless to say, it is the retail investors who mostly fall prey to these schemes.
The fear of loss in equity market and the lack of inflation-beating returns from regulated fixed deposits push investors into taking a higher risk – the risk of losing all their savings and having little or no redressal mechanism.
Here are a few points that may be worth giving a thought if you ever come across a scheme that lures you with high returns:
Complicated business or investment strategy
Ponzi schemes often work in multi-tiers. They are called pyramid schemes and often take the structure of multi level marketing (MLM) agencies. In a 2009 circular the RBI had brought to light (see RBI notice) as to how some of these firms posing as MLMs had been mobilizing large deposits with money eventually following out for illegal or highly risky purposes.
Therefore, it is first important to understand the nature of business or investment strategy.
If somebody is trying to sell you a product or idea that you do not understand, it is not your fault. It is the likely that the idea is a weak or dubious one. Walk away.
It is best to seek opportunities in businesses that have existed for a good period. Even if the business appears promising , remember retail investors cannot be angel investors, providing finance to budding businesses that hold plenty of promises and no assets.
High ‘guaranteed’ returns in short span
High returns mean high risk. This funda especially holds good if returns are promised in a short period of time. Take the Gold Sukh case where the promoter promised 150% returns in 18 months. A fixed deposit would take over 10 years (at 9%) to deliver that. Nor did gold deliver such returns in that period. In the Citibank relationship manager’s case, investors were promised 2-3% a month. That’s about 24% a year.
Now that does not mean one cannot earn 20-30% in equities or mutual funds. You can but they are neither guaranteed nor predictable. Also there is an underlying core business of a company involved in all this.
Hence make a quick back of the envelope calculation to check if such returns are feasible at all in relation to regular products available in the market. A novel scheme (like the plantation schemes when they were first launched) that cannot be compared is good for promoters to make their windfall gains (if there really is); not for you.
Also, whether in gold, equities or currency trading, be wary of ‘assured return’ schemes that ask you for a lump sum with promise of high profits. If you wish to trade, you better learn to do it yourself using your own demat and broker account. There can be no other recipe for disaster than these purported pooled schemes.
Regulations governing the scheme
Large returns mean larger risk; that entails huge amount of information and verification before you invest. The first step towards such verification is knowing what laws govern the investment. It could be the RBI or SEBI or simply the Companies Act.
You should also know if the firm has authorization to borrow from the public. For instance, an NBFC must be registered with the RBI and also have authorization to collect deposits from the public. They are also required to have a credit rating on such deposits.
Direct equities and mutual funds are governed by SEBI laws while insurance by the IRDA. Chit funds, on the other hand, are mostly governed by state laws (not by RBI) and have less redressal mechanisms when compared with the others mentioned above.
You need to know if you have a lifeguard before you get into the waters.
High initial investment
As ponzi schemes seldom have their own capital, they would depend on investors to invest a good sum in the beginning or in a matter of few instalments. Gold Sukh had 3 such plans of Rs 23,000, Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 6 lakh. That is a large sum for a retail investor. Be wary of committing large sums in schemes outside the ambit of regular organized financial system.
Initial euphoria
Do not go by the high returns that a friend just received from a ‘too good to be true’ firm. That’s how a ponzi operates.
Economist Robert Schiller’s definition of ponzi scheme in his research paper is now being often quoted in the media: “It (ponzi scheme) creates a false perception of high returns for initial investors by distributing to them money brought in by subsequent investors. Initial investor response to the scheme tends to be weak, but as successive rounds of high returns generate excitement, the story becomes increasingly believable and exciting to investors. Finally, the scheme collapses when new investors are not prepared to enter the scheme”.
There could be any number of other clues that should spell caution. A firm demanding payment through third party or individual’s name, the promoter promising to pay back from his own pocket (no institution is going to promise that) or schemes that make you feel important by stating ‘exclusive’ offers. The list does not end there.
No quick bucks
In all, scams time and again bring to light that there is no such thing as quick money. As investors, we have little choice but to start building investments early, if we aim high.
For retail investors the only recipe to build wealth is: making regular investments through regulated systems, taking calculated risks and seeking the help of qualified people in case they need advice.
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Dear Vidya Mam,
Sage advice indeed. But unfortunately people tend to fall for such schemes since time immemorial. Due to lack of financial inclusion in India, people in un-banked areas, predominantly illiterate ones are exposed in such dubious schemes.
The worst part about ‘Saradha’ was the way the Bengal CM decided to put up a Rs. 500 cr fund and increased taxes on cigarettes to compensate the subscribers. This is pure non-sense. One subscribes to Ponzi scheme, gets outrageous returns of 25-30% pa for some period and when the scheme fails; govt bails u out.
Hope the sanity prevails sooner rather than later.
Warm Regards,
Aditya
Hi Vidya,
What do you think about schemes like GoldQuest?
Thanks,
~Saurav
Hi Saurav, GoldQuest was a typical scam case of multi elevel marketing scheme, created with pyramid structures that makes it difficult for those down the line to get commissions. The scheme did not have a proper core business and sold multiple things in the past. It is being widely debated that they are back in the country under a different banner. Individuals would do well to stay away from businesses that do not have a track record or sound too complicated. tks, Vidya
Can we consider AMWAY similar to a PONZI scheme?
Hello, That would be a tough question to answer. It is a multi level marketing scheme but that does not automatically make it a scam/ponzi scheme. And ponzi scheme comes to light only when there is default…not before that. The said company has been around for long. So it is best to check whether existing agents are unhappy or whether you understand the whole scheme and how it operates before joining the bandwagon. Tks, Vidya
Can we consider AMWAY similar to a PONZI scheme?
Hello, That would be a tough question to answer. It is a multi level marketing scheme but that does not automatically make it a scam/ponzi scheme. And ponzi scheme comes to light only when there is default…not before that. The said company has been around for long. So it is best to check whether existing agents are unhappy or whether you understand the whole scheme and how it operates before joining the bandwagon. Tks, Vidya
What about the Mutual fund Scemes like ‘ Franklin India Opportunities ‘ and ‘ ICICI Service sector Fund” ? Where the so called ‘Expert’ fund manager collects money , earns , and pay the invester less than what one gets in simple saving bank account.
Hello sir,
In a ponzi scheme, the promoter either swindles the money or the money is stuck in various lending/investments that he makes and that cannot be liquidated.
Mutual funds are far from such a scenario. The fund house or fund manager does not pocket your money. The regulations and the trust structure ensure that this does not happen. On the contrary you have lost it in the stock market as the price of shares they invested in falls. It is the same as your individually investing in stocks and losing money.
Yes, you can blame the fund manager for poor acumen in managing assets, when other fund managers did do well. And remember, an equity scheme is as good (or as bad) as the underlying stocks and the market. For example, you cannot expect any miracle in an infrastructure fund when the whole sector is reeling in a downturn.
And a savings bank rate however low the interest, is fixed. Stock market returns are not. They do not provide any guarantee but are regulated far better than small finance companies not registered as NBFC and not coming under the RBI’s ambit. Tks, Vidya
what about qnet and japanlife?
they are not ponzi schemes..
What about the Mutual fund Scemes like ‘ Franklin India Opportunities ‘ and ‘ ICICI Service sector Fund” ? Where the so called ‘Expert’ fund manager collects money , earns , and pay the invester less than what one gets in simple saving bank account.
Hello sir,
In a ponzi scheme, the promoter either swindles the money or the money is stuck in various lending/investments that he makes and that cannot be liquidated.
Mutual funds are far from such a scenario. The fund house or fund manager does not pocket your money. The regulations and the trust structure ensure that this does not happen. On the contrary you have lost it in the stock market as the price of shares they invested in falls. It is the same as your individually investing in stocks and losing money.
Yes, you can blame the fund manager for poor acumen in managing assets, when other fund managers did do well. And remember, an equity scheme is as good (or as bad) as the underlying stocks and the market. For example, you cannot expect any miracle in an infrastructure fund when the whole sector is reeling in a downturn.
And a savings bank rate however low the interest, is fixed. Stock market returns are not. They do not provide any guarantee but are regulated far better than small finance companies not registered as NBFC and not coming under the RBI’s ambit. Tks, Vidya
what about qnet and japanlife?
they are not ponzi schemes..
These days Limited company like Unitech & others offer 15.50% & Above interest on Fixed deposit… as the stock market is very unprecedented many company offer attractive interest to make public invest on their FD in long term… is there any mechanism in place in case if the FD gets Defaulted on repayment… (or) Will SEBI & Govt of india will wake up only after the Scam Erupt and investors loose their money… Also the other means of Ponzi scam are as follows… Offering Greater return every month by Call Taxi company where they promise a big money if the vehicle is leased to them… Neither the money come in nor the Vehicle returned in Good shape some of the famous one are Mangalmurthi, NTL Call Taxi Etc…. other MLM Offering are as follows… Myvideotalk Promoted by the Ex-Gold Quest Members. Monovie another company offering so Called Health product by selling syrup at Premium rate Promoted by Ex- TV & Film Artist, Tiens focusing only on rural segment where agents take 2-3K for enrollment and disappear,
These days Limited company like Unitech & others offer 15.50% & Above interest on Fixed deposit… as the stock market is very unprecedented many company offer attractive interest to make public invest on their FD in long term… is there any mechanism in place in case if the FD gets Defaulted on repayment… (or) Will SEBI & Govt of india will wake up only after the Scam Erupt and investors loose their money… Also the other means of Ponzi scam are as follows… Offering Greater return every month by Call Taxi company where they promise a big money if the vehicle is leased to them… Neither the money come in nor the Vehicle returned in Good shape some of the famous one are Mangalmurthi, NTL Call Taxi Etc…. other MLM Offering are as follows… Myvideotalk Promoted by the Ex-Gold Quest Members. Monovie another company offering so Called Health product by selling syrup at Premium rate Promoted by Ex- TV & Film Artist, Tiens focusing only on rural segment where agents take 2-3K for enrollment and disappear,
Dear Vidya Mam,
Sage advice indeed. But unfortunately people tend to fall for such schemes since time immemorial. Due to lack of financial inclusion in India, people in un-banked areas, predominantly illiterate ones are exposed in such dubious schemes.
The worst part about ‘Saradha’ was the way the Bengal CM decided to put up a Rs. 500 cr fund and increased taxes on cigarettes to compensate the subscribers. This is pure non-sense. One subscribes to Ponzi scheme, gets outrageous returns of 25-30% pa for some period and when the scheme fails; govt bails u out.
Hope the sanity prevails sooner rather than later.
Warm Regards,
Aditya
Hi Vidya,
What do you think about schemes like GoldQuest?
Thanks,
~Saurav
Hi Saurav, GoldQuest was a typical scam case of multi elevel marketing scheme, created with pyramid structures that makes it difficult for those down the line to get commissions. The scheme did not have a proper core business and sold multiple things in the past. It is being widely debated that they are back in the country under a different banner. Individuals would do well to stay away from businesses that do not have a track record or sound too complicated. tks, Vidya