1. Charles Ponzi

• Scheme: Known for the “Ponzi Scheme,” Charles Ponzi defrauded investors by promising high returns through arbitrage of postal reply coupons. He used money from new investors to pay returns to earlier investors, eventually collapsing when new investments dried up.
• Impact: His scheme led to the loss of millions of dollars and became synonymous with similar fraudulent schemes.

2. Bernie Madoff

• Scheme: Bernie Madoff orchestrated one of the largest and most infamous Ponzi schemes in history, defrauding investors of billions of dollars. His firm promised high and consistent returns, which were actually paid using the capital of new investors.
• Impact: The collapse of Madoff’s scheme in 2008 led to significant financial losses for thousands of investors and had a major impact on the financial industry.

3. Frank Abagnale Jr.

• Scheme: Frank Abagnale is known for his various impersonations and frauds during the 1960s, including posing as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. He forged checks worth millions of dollars.
• Impact: His life was dramatized in the film “Catch Me If You Can.” Abagnale was eventually captured and served prison time but later became a consultant on fraud prevention.

4. Elizabeth Holmes

• Scheme: Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, deceived investors and patients with false claims about her company’s blood-testing technology. She claimed the technology could run comprehensive tests with a few drops of blood, but it was ultimately unreliable.
• Impact: Her fraud led to significant legal consequences and the dismantling of Theranos. Holmes was convicted of fraud in 2022.

5. Jordan Belfort

• Scheme: Known as the “Wolf of Wall Street,” Jordan Belfort ran a brokerage firm involved in pump-and-dump schemes, manipulating stock prices and defrauding investors.
• Impact: His actions led to a conviction for securities fraud and related crimes. His life story was depicted in the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

6. Allen Stanford

• Scheme: Allen Stanford ran a Ponzi scheme through his investment company, promising high returns from offshore certificates of deposit. His scheme defrauded investors of billions.
• Impact: Stanford was convicted in 2012 and sentenced to 110 years in prison. His case highlighted the risks associated with high-return investment promises.

7. Robert Allenby

• Scheme: Not to be confused with the golfer, Robert Allenby, the businessman, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme involving fake investments and Ponzi schemes in the early 2000s.
• Impact: His schemes led to significant financial losses for investors and legal repercussions.

8. Victor Lustig

• Scheme: Known as the “Count” and “The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower,” Lustig was a con artist who managed to sell the Eiffel Tower twice, convincing scrap metal dealers that the landmark was going to be dismantled.
• Impact: Lustig was a notorious figure in the early 20th century, known for his elaborate and daring frauds.

9. Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey)

• Scheme: Anna Sorokin posed as a wealthy socialite and scammed banks, hotels, and friends by claiming to be a wealthy heiress. Her extravagant lifestyle and fraudulent claims garnered significant media attention.
• Impact: She was convicted of multiple charges, including grand larceny, and her story was widely covered, including in the Netflix series “Inventing Anna.”