Wall Street Is the Definition of a Ponzi Scheme (Literally)

Lee Camp / Truthdig Sep 11, 2018 If only investors knew exactly what they were getting into—and what they aren’t going to get out of it. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

A Royal Ponzi Scheme

Teodrose Fikre / The Ghion Journal Apr 30, 2018 Our priorities and judgment have become warped as we deify the rich and famous and neglect the meek. This is the trap of a capitalistic society. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Are We Safe From the Next Ponzi Scheme? (Audio)

Staff / Truthdig Feb 6, 2018 Investigative reporter Steve Fishman explains how Bernie Madoff was able to pull off one of the largest financial crimes in U.S. history, and whether regulators have taken steps to ensure Americans won't get conned again. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Millions Paid to Administrator, Zero to Victims of Madoff

By Eric Larson / Bloomberg News May 24, 2017 For investors who lost money in Bernie Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme and are waiting for payback from a firm enlisted by the Department of Justice, the check's (still) in the mail. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Donzi Scheme

Will Durst / Truthdig Jun 29, 2016 In 2000 Donald Trump told Fortune Magazine, "It’s very possible I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money off of it." That's the goal. He’s got 4½ months to make as much money as possible. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

VIDEO: ‘Pharma Bro’ and Hedge Fund Profiteer Martin Shkreli Arrested in Fraud Case

Staff / Truthdig Dec 18, 2015 The 32-year-old Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO and Wall Street player became a source of schadenfreude on a mass scale Thursday with the news that he had been arrested for securities fraud. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Insider’s Economic Dictionary: P Is for Ponzi

By Michael Hudson Apr 13, 2014 Parasitism: In biology, parasites develop a strategy of gaining control of the host’s brain in order to obtain nourishment by masquerading as its natural progeny or as a part of its body. For economies, the brain in question is the government. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Is JPMorgan Chase About to Buy Its Way Out of Another Prosecution?

BLANK Oct 24, 2013 On the heels of an anticipated $13 billion fine to make its responsibility go away in the mortgage meltdown, the storied bank reportedly is in talks for a “deferred prosecution agreement” over its handling of some of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi money. Short version: Pay a fine, and the bank avoids criminal charges. So in addition to being "too big to fail," now we have "too big to be guilty." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Former Billionaire Sentenced for Huge Ponzi Scheme

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Jun 15, 2012 R. Allen Stanford is perhaps not as well known as Bernie Madoff, but the two men have one thing in common -- both received long sentences for their roles in separately orchestrating two of the largest Ponzi schemes ever. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

De Niro to Morph Into Madoff

Staff / Truthdig Nov 8, 2011 The spectacular flameout of Bernard Madoff after the big reveal of his fraudulent financial empire played out like Shakespeare for the 21st century, and master actor Robert De Niro was clearly paying attention. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Madoff’s Regrets

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2011 Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff's got nothing but time as he serves his sentence in a North Carolina prison for defrauding a vast network of clients out of billions of dollars, and he's apparently not averse to spending some of it sitting for interviews that aren't likely to help his standing much. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Poker ‘Ponzi Scheme’ Bagged $440 Million, Says DOJ

Staff / Truthdig Sep 21, 2011 Federal prosecutors Tuesday accused Full Tilt Poker, an online gambling operation, of running a global Ponzi scheme that siphoned $444 million from player accounts to pay off celebrity board members and cover business expenses. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )