pyramid scheme
nounDefinition of pyramid scheme
: a usually illegal operation in which participants pay to join and profit mainly from payments made by subsequent participants
Examples of pyramid scheme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Travis is deeply involved in a cult — Founders American Merchandise, or FAM — that is essentially a pyramid scheme. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Kirsten Dunst breaks bad in ‘Florida,’ and it’s good," 21 Aug. 2019 Travis is entangled in a pyramid scheme called Founders American Merchandise. — Judy Berman, Time, "On Becoming a God in Central Florida," 20 Aug. 2019 In the dark comedy series, Dunst stars as Krystal Stubbs, a wife and mother living near Orlando, Fla. in the 90s hustling a her way to the top of pyramid scheme. — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, "Kirsten Dunst says working is 'easier' than being a SAHM. Here's what the research says," 6 Aug. 2019 In 2016 Herbalife paid $200 million as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission that required significant changes to the company’s business practices but allowed it to avoid being classified as a pyramid scheme. — Patrick Thomas, WSJ, "Herbalife CEO Richard Goudis Resigns," 8 Jan. 2019 Prosecutors and defense lawyers gave closing arguments in a Brooklyn federal court this week following a trial that has given a disturbing inside look inside Raniere's group, which has been called a cult and a pyramid scheme. — CBS News, ""Sex, power and control": Jury to deliberate fate of alleged NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere," 18 June 2019 Why is Miss Dunst’s Krystal Stubbs — a water park employee who cons her way through the upper ranks of a cult-like pyramid scheme in 1992 Orlando — behaving badly? — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, "Kirsten Dunst gets buck-wild in exclusive On Becoming a God in Central Florida teaser," 21 June 2019 Federal prosecutors in Manhattan unsealed charges against the leaders of cryptocurrency company OneCoin Ltd., accusing them of operating a world-wide pyramid scheme and defrauding investors of billions of dollars. — Patrick Thomas, WSJ, "Prosecutors Accuse OneCoin Leader, Founder of Operating ‘Pyramid Scheme’," 8 Mar. 2019 Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued LuLaRoe clothing last week, accusing the company of pyramid scheme in which thousands of Washington residents have lost money selling clothes. — Kate Thayer, The Seattle Times, "Move over, jewelry and leggings. Selling CBD oil is the new side hustle for moms," 29 Jan. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pyramid scheme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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