Part I: Recognizing Fraud

What is a pyramid scheme exactly? Have you ever participated in or invested in such a scheme? Have you ever been a victim of one? Research and discuss this topic in this part of your project. According to research, why can it be difficult to detect a pyramid scheme? What are some possible tip-offs to this kind of fraud? Why are pyramid schemes unsustainable? Who are the victims? Provide a diagram illustrating the dynamics of pyramid schemes.

Part II: Famous Scandals
Survey the Web site of a 2009 60 Minutes CBS broadcast on the Madoff affair, which includes articles, video, and links in this Youtube Video, ‘The Man Who Knew’ . According to this site, who discovered the Madoff fraud and how? Who were Madoff’s victims? Visit the support group Web site created for the victims. In the CBS video, how did Madoff defend himself? Read a Read a Journal article that explains how Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was able to succeed. How did investor biases contribute to this success?
How did biases in regulatory oversight contribute to the fraud? Sample some of the videos of the congressional hearings on the Madoff scandal. Why did representatives and senators focus their criticism on the Securities and Exchange Commission?
Use the template provided.