In December of 2008, the world learned that legendary investment guru Bernard Madoff made-off with an estimated $50 billion in what was called the "Mother of all Ponzi Schemes." Ponzi schemes, named after Charles Ponzi, are scams in which early "investors" are given supposed returns paid through funds provided by later investors. Typically, an investment is made and then some "profits" are paid out, prompting the investor to assume that his or her money has increased in value. In actuality, the perpetrators of these schemes-Ponzi, Madoff, or the others described in this book-take the money...

In December of 2008, the world learned that legendary investment guru Bernard Madoff made-off with an estimated $50 billion in what was called the "Mother of all Ponzi Schemes." Ponzi schemes, named after Charles Ponzi, are scams in which early "investors" are given supposed returns paid through funds provided by later investors. Typically, an investment is made and then some "profits" are paid out, prompting the investor to assume that his or her money has increased in value. In actuality, the perpetrators of these schemes-Ponzi, Madoff, or the others described in this book-take the money...