I liked local "Italian restaurant ad" Ponzi. I mean it still looked like scam to me, but I can understand why people fell for it. Scheme can only last for few months, a year at most, so the organizer must be ready to GTFO as soon as it reaches the peak. Participants are offered $1k/months for placing the restaurant ad on their car (banner behind rear windshield) but asked for $3k or $4k "security deposit". Of course the "restaurant ad" actually only said "I make $1k/month with this ad, call xxx to learn how".