Ponzi scheme like investment schemes in India – causes, impact and solution
| Date | 06 June 2023 |
| Pages | 348-362 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-02-2023-0040 |
| Published date | 06 June 2023 |
| Author | Shubhasree Bhadra,Kamakhya Narain Singh |
Ponzi scheme like investment
schemes in India –causes, impact
and solution
Shubhasree Bhadra
Faculty of Commerce and Management,
St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, India, and
Kamakhya Narain Singh
RaDev Group, Delhi, India
Abstract
Purpose –News items like “A whopping 2 lakh gullibleinvestors were cheated.......”amply illustrate the
extent of problems and hardships caused by financialfrauds related to Ponzi schemes, collective investment
schemes (CIS), unregulated deposit schemes, etc. In India, over the years, many Ponzi and unregulated
investment schemes have taken place,causing huge economic and financial loss to Indian economy. This
paper aims to examine whyinvestment such schemes like Ponzi schemes and CIS becomepopular, how such
schemes gotoperated in different periods and what could be done to safeguardthe interests of investors.
Design/methodology/approach –The analysis is done basedon secondary data and research work of
various researchers,organisation and institutions, whichare available in the public domain.
Findings –This paper has tried to analyse various characteristicsof s uchfraudulent schemes, like their modus
operandi, promotional activity,background of promoters and legal process involved in recouping financial loss of
millions of investors. This paper also examines the demand-side factors that are responsible for popularity of
those schemes in India. Noting the regulatory changes and other initiative taken by regulatory authorities to
control the supply of unregulated investment schemes, this paper indicates potential actions, which could be
undertaken to make people awareabout the risks and issues related with such fraudulent schemes.
Originality/value –This paper gives an overview about various aspects of unregulated investment
schemes, whichhave duped numerous people at different point of time. To the best of the authors’knowledge,
this researchwork is original and has not been publishedin any other journal.
Keywords Financial inclusion, Financial education, Ponzi schemes, Collective investment schemes,
Investor education and protection, Unregulated deposit schemes
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
One often hears and sees cases of large segment of population getting duped by dubious
investment schemes such as Ponzi schemes, collective investment schemes (CIS) and
unregulated deposit schemes. Although the news of such fraudulent investment schemes
reaching the public at large, there is always another set of public which gets attracted and
entrapped by dubious investmentschemes, promoted by unscrupulous promoters.
“Financial inclusion”and “financial education”are related terms, which work on the
supply side and demand side of financial services, respectively. Financial inclusion, which
works on the supply side, can be defined as access to bouquet of affordable financial
services related to banking, investment, insurance, pension and remittance provided on
timely basis by formal and regulated sources. Financial education, which works on the
demand side, can be broadly defined as specific education related to financial knowledge,
JMLC
27,2
348
Journalof Money Laundering
Control
Vol.27 No. 2, 2024
pp. 348-362
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/JMLC-02-2023-0040
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1368-5201.htm
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