(Mental Floss)-- Investigators are trying to figure out whether the financial fraud allegedly perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff was, in fact, the largest Ponzi scheme in history. The alleged scam ...

In 1920, Charles Ponzi's "get-rich-quick" scheme started out small and legal. He promised investors a doubling of their investments in 90 days, and fulfilled that promise by buying International ...

The phrase Ponzi scheme dates back well before Bernie Madoff defrauded investors out of $65 billion. Between 1882 and 1949, Charles Ponzi, an Italian immigrant, found a loophole in currency exchanges.

From Charles Ponzi's original scam to Bernie Madoff's unprecedented $65 billion fraud, discover how these schemes operated and the devastating impacts they had on thousands. More for You ...

You can start this week. The phrase Ponzi scheme dates back well before Bernie Madoff defrauded investors out of $65 billion.