Category Archives: Business Analyst

Busted! Another Ponzi Scheme Promoter Gets Caught

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The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Raymond Morris with an offering fraud. Morris, a Draper, Utah, resident is charged with defrauding investors out of at least million.

According to the federal complaint filed, Morris sold unregistered and non-exempt promissory notes to dozens of investors between March 2007 and January 2009. Investors were told they were investing in “risk free” high-yield notes. The principal was to be deposited into a secure account and only used for “verification of deposit” purposes. Leveraging the money in the account, Morris promised returns of 20% per month.

Morris guaranteed the deposits would never leave his account. According to the SEC, Morris used the money to purchase a luxury home and several sports cars. Like most Ponzi schemes, Morris also used a portion of the money to pay early investors who wished to cash out.

Fraudsters will frequently pay a few investors the promised rate of return. These happy customers create an illusion of safety for the investors that follow.

Morris isn’t the only one charged in this Ponzi scheme. He had help. The government has charged James Haley, Jay Linford, Cornerstone Capital Fund and Vantage Point Capital with selling the bogus high yield notes. Morris’ own lawyer, Luc Nguyen, was also charged in the scheme.

Although every Ponzi scheme has common characteristics, the greed in this case is exceptional. The government says that co-defendant James Haley was himself scammed by Morris, although that didn’t stop Haley from compounding the fraud.

Prosecutors says that Morris told Haley that he had come across an “exclusive investment opportunity” started by the owner of the Houston Astros. The fund was closed to new investors and was claimed to have generated 20% monthly returns for the preceding 8 years. Conveniently, Morris called Haley several days later and said one of the investors had died creating an opening.

Without performing any due diligence, Haley began soliciting investment funds from his friends and neighbors. The government says that Haley simply repeated Morris’ ridiculous claims. At some point, Haley crossed the line from negligence and became an active fraudster himself by telling later investors that he “owned” the fund.

The greed doesn’t stop there. Around June of 2007, Morris and Haley hired Nguyen to perform legal work. Nguyen apparently did more than just represent the two. He began soliciting additional investors, telling them that he had verified the legitimacy of the fund and had spoken with the banks and private traders involved in the fund. He also told investors that he had invested his own money in the fund. All false says the SEC.

Nguyen was paid x,000 for his legal work but received an additional x,000 in commissions.

The greed still doesn’t end. Morris met co-defendant Jay Linford at an investor seminar. Not satisfied with claims of 20% returns in just 30 days, Linwood raised another million by telling some investors that the fund paid returns as high as 100% in just 7 days. That is an annual rate of return of over 5000% without compounding!

No Ponzi scheme can last long with the rates that Morris and the others were advertising. The scheme began to unravel in April 2008 when some investors were unable to cash out. Morris began spinning a variety of tales including a story that “Homeland Security” had frozen the accounts. By October of 2008, Morris was allegedly forging phony bank statements in an effort to buy time. Even while the fraud was unraveling, Morris continued to take in additional funds.

The government has charged the group with multiple counts of securities fraud. The FBI and local officials are assisting in the investigation.

Unfortunately many of the investors who lost their money had minimal net worth and marginal earnings. Some even borrowed money to fund their investment. Many lost their entire life savings.

Note: This story is based on court records and published reports. The case was just filed on January 7th of 2011.

Google Adsense Ponzi Scheme

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This is not an accusation, but more a hypothesis. What gives this hypothesis legs is a recent discovery that Google is aggressively cracking down on so-called “violators” of the terms and conditions of its “Adsense” program. My own website recently fell victim to this ruthless and mindless activity. We have been gradually building our readership and hence our traffic through the combined effort of good, original content of the financial kind, and a parallel effort to monetize our traffic so we can continue offering this commentary at no cost to the reader.

As measured by various metrics tools for the internet, we were succeeding at Wealth-Ed.com and were just beginning to gain some traction with readers. Our writings are picked up now by SeekingAlpha.com and our insights and observations are available to many. Our well-timed pieces on General Growth Properties and more recently on the prospects for natural gas ETF, UNG, caused our views to spike. It was not through any illicit effort to create fictional traffic that our page views increased, but through hard and time consuming work combined with good luck and timing. Naturally, as our traffic increased, so did the balance in our Google Adsense account.

Then, without warning two weeks ago, our account was not suspended, but was permanently canceled by Google, apparently for all time. And our Adsense revenues were absconded by Google. Not just this website, but any other website we should ever develop is also barred from any relationship with the Adsense program. Again, there was no warning, no real chance to appeal (only a token automated email appeal form that returned a computer generated rejection). I was floored. How can a company that claims it wants to “do no Evil” justify this malevolence? Google is no longer the white knight, but has become Darth Vader.

We at “Wealth-Ed.com” could not believe that we were somehow singled out from the millions of similar websites that have been created and that utilize Adsense to help pay for the effort in some small way. We had done nothing wrong that we knew of that violated Google’s rules. The relationship between small website or blog developer and Google is supposed to be symbiotic. Small websites like ours put Google on the map.

Google attracts advertisers because it has such great reach and exposure through millions of small websites. It needs the billions of webpages to provide the internet real estate and associated “eyeballs” to sell to its advertisers. Google depends on small businesses and entrepreneurs more than any other internet or computer based software company. Microsoft , SAP and Oracle all rely on large business customers for the bulk of their revenues. But Google is almost entirely dependent on its ad-based business model that is dispensed through a myriad of startup websites. “Wealth-Ed.com” and all other similar small, entrepreneurial webpages on the “net” allow Google to exist.

So, how does Google figure to go forward by biting the hand that feeds it? This is a question that must be asked by any investor. My only answer is that Google is in big financial trouble that is not yet revealed by their published financial statements. This trouble comes from the same place that has exposed many other Ponzi schemes recently, most notably, Bernie Madoff’s. As the economy falters and advertising revenues dry up, Google is losing its primary source of income. It is no longer able to take money from one source, advertisers, and give it to another, Adsense ad posters, to keep the pyramid upright.

A good Ponzi requires a very convincing story which generates substantial public interest. The Ponzi sponsor then monetizes this public interest by collecting funds with a promise of great returns. The returns are generated by money brought in from other participants, not from any specific benefit created by the Ponzi artist. The Google Ponzi speculation is a little more subtle, which also makes it a little harder to uncover. Its scheme is supposedly made legitimate by a multi-paged, “fine print” contract that gives it the ability to shut down any website for just about any reason imaginable, or no reason at all except at the whim of Google. But is this contract really legal and enforceable?

As we started researching the crackdown on small businesses, we uncovered that there are thousands of others in the same situation. Many of our fellow small website developers have written about their own experience and loss of Adsense revenues. Many describe that it happened to them just as it happened to us: with no warning, no real chance of appeal, no one at Google to talk to, and unilateral confiscation of all their earned Adsense revenue. One such participant, Aaron Greenspan’s “Think Computer”, was officed in the same county in California as Google, Santa Clara. Greenspan took Google to small claims court…and won! (and then lost on appeal to a bevy of Google lawyers). I am sure Google knows that most web owners are not in a position to sue and wanted to drive the fruitlessness of litigation home by the appeal. Once again, Google demonstrated its utter contempt of the same customers and business partners who have made it what it is.

As Google continues to cut off its advertising partners reducing the number of ad page views what will the advertisers think? Google’s viewership will be greatly reduced and so will their ad traffic. The advertisers will respond by cutting back even further on their advertising. Google revenue will subsequently fall as will its profits, which may turn to losses given the enormous overhead created by the recent reckless moves by the management of Google.

The Google stock has a lofty price and multiple to earnings. It is valued as though it will continue to grow at 20% a year well into the future. But, if ad revenues and profits drop as we think they might, Google stock should be sold or shorted. Google’s latest attempt to remake itself into a full-featured business software company will cost it a king’s ransom. Taking on Microsoft, Oracle and SAP on their own turf could be the demise of Google. Hubris has its costs. Shorting Google stock is how we plan to recoup our losses of Google Adsense revenue.

Cycling Programs & Ponzi Schemes

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People make money and people lose money with cycling programs. People also make or lose money with network marketing and any other kind of legitimate business under the sun! While Ponzi schemes are illegal, some people make money with them, too, while many more lose money..

In this article, I would like to give the reader some information about Ponzi schemes and about “Cycling” programs.

PONZI SCHEMES

Ponzi schemes are a type of illegal pyramid scheme, named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands of New England residents. In the year 1920, Ponzi offered 50% profits every 45 days. He collected .8 million dollars from 10,550 people and paid out .8 million in just 8 months.

This was a kind of swindle, also called a “bubble” and has existed for hundreds of years. In reality, it is not an “investment” as people are led to believe. Money is simply being transferred from new investors to earlier investors. It is a fraud in which the “investors” are promised extremely high returns over a very short period of time.

This short payment time and high rate of return soon attracts large numbers of people. Initial “investors” make a lot of money, but their profits are not a result of the success of a business. Their profits actually come from the contributions of those people who later join, thinking they are participating in a legal business investment.

Ponzi schemes typically claim that their moneymaking abilities are because of their elaborate, inventive investments or business process. Because of word-of-mouth advertising about this great “opportunity,” new depositors are quick to jump on board. Usually a Ponzi scheme will not last very long. It eventually collapses since it was based on something that either never existed, or was grossly overvalued.

A major attraction of a Ponzi scheme is that it appears to be a high paying investment opportunity. As a passive type of program, a person does not need to work in order to generate great profits. The impression that people are given is that they need only to put their money into it and wait for the money to come rolling in!

Unfortunately, only a few “early birds” actually make money, which they actually receive by fraud, while everyone else loses most of or maybe their entire investment!

CYCLING PROGRAMS

Most people who are looking for ways to make money, truly just want to find something that is legitimate and is within their ability to do. A conventional business generally requires a large investment and long working hours. Network marketing, even though it is also a business that takes investment of time and money before a great deal of success is realized, has the advantages of being able to work part time and takes far less investment than does a conventional business. Unfortunately, with network marketing or MLM, there is a lot of hype. Often people are made to believe that they should be making lots of money in a short time. Since that usually doesn’t happen with MLM, as in any other legitimate business, people may begin looking for something that has less involvement and is more “passive” in nature.

So along comes an offer of a promise to make money in a short period of time. All you have to do is invest your money…and wait. There may or may not be some sort of product involved. A product of some sort at least keeps the program within “legal” limits. The so-called product may be leads that have been used over & over again, or some other internet thing that a person would not normally spend their hard-earned bucks for.

The promoters can be very skilled at making a person think that they are getting into a type of investment that really pays off and, indeed, a person … provided they are in “early” enough, does get paid. Investors are lead to believe that the “investment” is what is paying off, when in reality, it may be they are being paid from new people investing their money, or even may be getting part of their own money back.

These high-yield investment programs (HYIP’s) are actually much like the “cycling” programs only they are not called that. Most of those programs last no longer than about 6 months or so, and then collapse.

Then there are the programs that tell you that you will get paid when you cycle, or it is your turn. At first it takes only a few days to “cycle” and your money may double. The longer the program lasts, the longer it takes for a person to cycle. Eventually the cycle program collapses and the promoter starts another one. Most likely the same people that got in early on one program, will be the ones who get in early on the next program, and so on. A few people make real money, while the majority of folks are left holding the bag!

The promoter of this kind of program, I believe, is running an illegal Ponzi scheme! Even the people who get in early and make money are actually making money at the expense of those who invested later on, and may be in legal trouble, at least in the United States.

From the little bit of experience I have had with both the HYIP’s and the cycling programs, even though at the time I believed each was probably legitimate, a close analysis now tells me different. In general, I would advise anyone to stay far, far away from HYIP’s and from cycling programs.

However, I believe there may be some exceptions to the above information: there are at least a couple companies which have been around for several years that offer plans to their members to help them in advertising or obtaining leads for their business. It should be noted, though, that the members purchase product from these companies each month. Their compensation plan is not based on when they “cycle.”

Dear reader, face up to it, if you are going to develop an income in a legitimate business, you will need to be prepared to work, invest some money, and allow time before you realize the income of your dreams!

How to Spot the Next Ponzi Scheme

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With the staggeringly high number of Ponzi schemes that had already been revealed this past decade, one cannot help but wonder why a lot of people continue to fall for this fraud. It is important to recognize that no two Ponzi schemes are exactly similar. It comes in all shapes, colors, and forms. Their differing characteristics make Ponzi schemes difficult to pinpoint. The only thing they have in common is investment returns that seem too good to be real. However, there are also times when the profits are not even that impressive. In most cases though, you can detect a Ponzi scheme if you are offered a consistent and above-average return every year.

How Does a Ponzi Scheme Work?

A classic Ponzi scheme involves the perpetuation asking for “investment” money but then turns around and uses the money for himself. He then comes up with fictitious profits when paying the investors. The said “profits” are actually other people’s money. This scheme can continue until people realize that there is not enough money to pay off the investors. The Ponzi scheme soon collapses.

Though the financial damage brought about by this system can be great, the SEC is almost powerless to stop it at its roots. This is because there is no exact definition that describes what a Ponzi scheme is. Some perpetuations actually invest some of the money as promised. But he uses the remaining investments to pay off previous investors or lavish cash on himself.

Understanding Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid schemes are a variation of the Ponzi scheme. It essentially uses the same concept but it uses a large number of agents. For example, the main perpetuator will ask two people to “invest” in an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Assuming that the two individuals fall for it, they are given a chance to give the same “offer” to their friends and families. Meanwhile, they will derive a certain amount as commission. Theoretically, the investors are given a chance to recover some part of their investment by asking others to sign up. At first, it would seem that everyone is making money but eventually, the fraudulent system will be revealed once they can no longer recruit others into the pyramid.

In essence, both the Ponzi and pyramid system can be characterized by their reliance on money coming in from new investors, their requirement of new investors to pay off the returns, and the absence of effort to make honest and profitable work.

How to Become a Physical Therapist

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So you’re wondering how to become a physical therapist. This could be the first step to a very rewarding career that has an excellent job outlook and room for growth. Physical therapist jobs come with many different career options, ranging from private practice to working in an office to being part of the staff at a hospital or fitness center. The following career information should help you determine how to become a physical therapist and decide whether the job is right for you. The degrees needed to become a physical therapist vary depending on what your career goals are and how long you’re willing to spend in school. There are some technical school programs for physical therapy that will prepare you for an assistant or a technician job, but if you want to become a true physical therapist, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. Many people also choose to get a master’s degree in physical therapy, which will open up your career options and increase your salary potentials. The coursework in these degree programs will include biology, chemistry, physics and a variety of other subjects. The field of physical therapy is highly competitive, so it would be wise to do more than simply pass your classes while you’re in college. It would be wise to complete an internship, get excellent grades and polish your interpersonal skills, so you’ll be ready to deal with patients under stress as well as excel during your job interviews. You should also decide early on what area you want to specialize in, so you can gain skills, knowledge and practice in that area. Areas such as neurology, pediatrics or sports medicine may also have different degree and certification requirements. Upon graduation, you will need to pass the mandatory licensure exam, and then you can begin seeking work. The median expected salary for a typical physical therapist with a moderate level of experience in the United States is $71,181. The average range is approximately $65,000 to $77,000. This job will be around as long as people are injuring themselves and suffering debilitating conditions, though, so there will always be a need for more physical therapists. For more information on how to become a physical therapist in your area, you may want to speak with someone who is working as a physical therapist in your field of interest. Institutions offering quality Physical Therapy Programs include Apollo College, Brown Mackie College, Keiser University, South College and South University. Find the perfect Allied Health School or Physical Therapy College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

Nursing Homes Jobs

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Healthcare is one of the most growing fields in the U. S today. With many adult children unable to financial or physically take care of their ailing parents; they reach out to nursing homes for help. To keep a nursing home functional there are numerous nursing home jobs; such as: -Doctor -Nurse (LPN, RN) -Physician Assistants -Medical Assistants -Nursing Assistants -Receptionist/Secretary -Director of Nursing -Assistant Director of Nursing -Social Worker -Nutritionist/Dietician -Dietary Aides -Janitor -Housekeeping Aides -Transportation/Drivers -Human Resources Manager -Office Personnel -Physical Therapist -Director -Activities Director Doctors and nurses are there to ensure that the patient within the nursing home is being properly diagnosed, prescribed the right medication and receiving the upmost positive care. Also making sure all suport staff are following instructions. All doctors receive an additional four years of college in their desired specialty. Salary ranges from 40,000 to 100,00 or more. Nutritionist/Dietitians are required to have a bachelors in dietetics and pass the test before becoming licensed. Their job is to ensure every patient is on a healthy well balanced diet to maintain any conditions. They create a meal plan for each patients entire day; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, condiments and including beverages. Salary ranges from 36,000 to 50,000. Social Workers duties & responsibilities to the patients are to make sure they are receiving the proper care and to prevent any type of abuse. Social workers role within the nursing home is to advocate for the patient. Social workers are required to have a master’s degree. Salary ranges from 20,000 to 36,000. Receptionist and office personnel duties include answering the phones, delivering mail to patients, direct visitors, input vital information, maintain files, etc. Some facilities do ask for you to have completed high school and have some experience. Salary ranges from 10,000 to 32,000.

Mr. Ponzi Mask Stock Market Criminal Funny Costume Accessory

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Ponzi Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend

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Product DescriptionIt was a time when everything is m? Resembled Instant wealth appeared, glittering fame, fabulous luxury and f? R a run of magical weeks in the breakfast and spring of summer of 1920 Charles Ponzi was all true. Promising to double investors’ money in three months, the dapper, charming Ponzi raised the “rob Peter to pay Paul” scam to an art form. On the H? HIGHLIGHTS his success, Ponzi was in more than $ 2,000,000 in the week rake in his B? Office in downtown Boston. Then his house of cards collapsed, thanks to a big part explained the relentless investigative reporting? About Richard Grozier Boston Post. A classic American story of migration and the dream of success Ponzi scheme, the amazing story of the magnetic scoundrel who launched the most successful scheme of financial alchemy in modern history.

Ponzi Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend

Franco Sarto Knee High Heel Boot Mid Ponzi – Smoke

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When Debt’s Bogging You Down, A Repair Service Can Help

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Business news – As you know, for some reason debt seems to creep up on many individuals, and when you’re credit line is about to be yanked, and the bill’s are piling so high that you can’t see the kitchen table anymore, then seeking reputable credit repair services in your community or online is a step in the right direction!

When you start searching for the right credit repair services, you have to determine what really needs repairing. If your credit is just starting to slide in the early stages, and you’re still making the payments on your bills barely, then you may only need to negotiate a consolidation loan to lower your monthly payments.

However, if you’re credit situation has become extremely poor and out of control, and you have already missed several necessary payments, then you may be in need for counseling, or a necessary debt management service to help you to improve & fix your credit score, and bureau reports!

Determine Whether You Need Credit Repair, Or Solutions To Save Your Credit!

Only you will know prior to contacting a financial assistance company, what your current financial standings are, and how much help you will need to get back on your feet again.

To clarify this a little further, is that you’re hopefully out of your denial stage, and you have finally come to grips with where you actually stand with your finances. Many individuals that spiral into serious debt, and eventually into possible bankruptcy, are ones that believe they don’t need the help, they have too much pride to ask for the help, and by that time it’s too late to get the important financial assistance.

Once you determine where your finances are positioned, then it’s time to contact debt management organizations, or loan services like thecreditpeople.com to start improving your personal or business finances immediately. If budget advice and financial restructuring is beyond your reach, then you need to contact a good debt counseling company in your community or online, and whichever makes you feel more comfortable, allow them to design a plan to work with your current creditors so you can quickly get out of debt.