The
occurrence of HYIPs is somewhat
new, but
have gained popularity at
a rapid rate.
They have
become one
of the biggest opportunities
to make a lot of money fast, but also one
of the internet's biggest scams
in recent years.
They have made
a lot
of people rich, but have also made
a lot
of people lose their money. Should
you get
in on this phenomenon?
This article is
a reference to aid
you in the decision.
What is
a HYIP?:
HYIP stands for High Yield Investment Program. HYIPs
are investment
programs normally offered on
the internet. They typically
accept investments of $100 or less while promising high returns. Interest
rates of up
to 100% a month is not
uncommon. In general
the interest rates
are ranging anywhere between 5
250% a
month. Most only accept payments through e-currency programs such
as e-gold because this allows them
to accept numerous donations from anywhere in
the world.
Where does the money come
from?: There
are hundreds of different investment strategies
used by HYIPs. Some invest in stocks,
others in property. There
are even HYIPs investing in other HYIPs. Scam HYIPs are
Ponzi schemes, in
which new investors provide the money to pay a profit to existing investors, which they
could then withdraw leaving
nothing to pay the new
investor. This approach allows the scam to continue as
long as new investors are
found and/or old investors leave their money in the scheme.
Is it
legal?: Some might consider investing in a HYIP gambling. Gambling
online is of
questionable legal status in the U.S. and other
countries, however, the odds of
winning cannot be
determined, as one cannot know whether one is playing early
enough to win money.
Thus, it is unlike other forms of gambling,
where a player has an equal chance of winning
no matter when a ticket is bought, or where the odds of the game are known. In addition, the
promise to pay out a percentage of deposits is not a legally binding
contract or regulated by a government agency.
Is it worth the
risk?: This is a tough question.
It really depends. These programs are extremely high risk. There are
more scams out there than serious long term programs. Over the years
large amounts of people have lost their money as a result of
being involved in High Yield Investment Programs. However, if you are aware of the risks, really research the program, and
never invest more money than you are willing to lose the payoff could be huge.
Copyright 2006 Timothy Rohrer
Timothy Rohrer is an established
author and
home business owner. To
learn more about a profitable home business,
visit http://www.profitmasterworld.com