Ponzi

Named after con artist Charles Ponzi (1882–1949) who notoriously ran such type of scam.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒnzi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑnzi/
• Rhymes: -ɒnzi

Ponzi (not comparable)

1. (finance) Pertaining to a scheme whereby investors' returns are paid for directly by later investors' investments, giving the false impression that the investment is viable.
   • 2012 March 8, “Fraudster jailed for Britain's biggest Ponzi scam”, in The Guardian‎:

     Officers, who say he [Kautilya Nandan Pruthi] was Britain's most prolific Ponzi fraudster "by some way", fear that only around £2m will be returned to his victims.

Ponzi (plural Ponzis)

1. A Ponzi scheme.
   • 2003, Ben Armstrong, Catching Up to Crypto, page 67:

     To be fair, degenerate gambling and poorly designed Ponzis have consumed some corners of the crypto market, […]

From the personal name Ponzio.

Ponzi m or f by sense

1. a surname originating as a patronymic

• pinzo, pinzò