Efrain Betancourt, Jr., 36, a Colombian citizen, was arrested on Nov. 14, upon entering the United States and charged in South Florida federal court with leading a $66 million Ponzi scheme disguised as a payday loan company, Sky Group USA, LLC (Sky Group).
Ponzi schemes sound relatively easy to start but I wonder why nobody seems to have an exit strategy except the crypto guys.
Crypto just makes it way easier because of the (pseudo-) anonymity.
It’s not anonymous by default, but if you want to be you can figure out how, and it probably makes it much easier to get away with scams like this.
My guess is that the do, but their greed makes them hold on too long to exercise it. Its not like there’s a formula or measure when your Ponzi scheme is about to get exposed. For many I imagine the first time they learn they’re at risk, the evidence is already in the hands of prosecutors and your passport has been seized.
Why would you exit when you’re living the high life on other people’s money?
The thing about Ponzi schemes is that you don’t actually have that much cash. What you get goes to paying the previous marks and supporting the lifestyle to make you look rich.
Smart criminals make just enough money to never work again and then disappear
