Bernard Madoff, founder of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities was arrested for his creation of a $50 billion dollar pyramid scheme. Essentially, Bernard Madoff was operating a ponzi scheme that tricked small investors and commercial banks. Even Geneva-based banks lost more than $4 billion in Madoff’s scheme.
Bernard Madoff isn’t the first investor to pull off a massive pyramid scheme, but with $50 billion he’s probably the most ‘accomplished’ in his art of trickery.
On this occasion, we’re featuring 29 other spectacular scams, hoaxes and frauds.
28 Scams, Hoaxes and Frauds for Bernard Madoff
26
Bigfoot Captured
Scientists to Reveal Bigfoot and DNA (Proof or Hoax?)
25
Video of Banksy's Paris Hilton Hoax
24
Morbid Candy
The Chocolate Newborn Hoax
23
Black Friday Ad Hoaxes
Best Buy, Future Shop, Circuit City Gift Card Email
22
Fake Ads (Follow Up)
Prankster Who Published Fake Ads Tells His Tale
21
Online Daters Sue Matchmaking Websites for Fraud
20
Street Art Scams
The Banksy Pet Shop
19
Hoax Hacks
Skullphone Fakes Digital Billboard Hijack
18
Deliberate Shortage
The Xbox Shortage Hoax of 2005
17
Serero Eiffel Tower Extension (UPDATE)
Le Grande Hoax
16
Mega Hoaxes
Biggest Drawing is a Fake
15
Engadget Hoax Drives Apple Stock Down $4 Billion
14
Cooking With Cellphones
Popcorn Popping Is Another Hoax
13
Facebook Fraud
41% Leak Personal Info To Fake Frog
12
Another Second Life Lawsuit
Sex Toy Fraud
11
Digg Fraud
Users Paying For Popularity
10
Whisky Fraud Rising
Protecting "The Recipe" in China, India
9
Top 7 iPhone Scams
8
Get Paid To Lose Weight
Hoax Website Offers $100 Per Pound
7
Fake Sushi Fraud
Cheap Substitutes Passed Off As Red Snapper
6
Spoiling Scalper Schemes
Aussie Fans Strike Back
5
Fake Websites 2
Canadian Competition Bureau Mocks Up Anatomy of an Online Health Scam
4
Scamming Scammers
Nigerian Email Fraud Back Fires
3
Documentaries on Election Fraud
4 Shocking Truths
2
Redecorating Subway Cars
Pranksters Turn Train into a Living Room
1
Powdered Celebrity Skin
Famous Stardust (Hoax)
Related Ideas
Recycled Plastic Tiny Homes
Gary Bencheghib's Home in Bali is Made with 35,000 Plastic Bags
Highly Affordable Fashion Launches
Kanye West Alters Prices to $20 On YEEZY SUPPLY Drop
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Expanding Accordion-Style Wallets
The Mbacco Wallet Has Ample Space to Store More Than Cards
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
Disruptive AI-Finance Chatbots
Origin Financial Wins Big with AI Chatbot for Everyday Finance
Stunning Fashion Show Invites
Louis Vuitton Finally Debuts Pharrell's First Menswear Collection
Luxury Resale Companies
Cudoni Recently Raised $9 Million from High-Profile Investors
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
His-and-Her Underwear
SAXX Offers Women Valentine’s Day Gift With 'Upside Down Heart' Pendant
Reparative Haircare Dupes
Oladupé Highlights the Original Olaplex's Inimitable Formula
Large Archeological Museum Complex
The Grand Egyptian Museum Prepares to Open its Doors
Future Building Material Exhibitions
The Farrell Centre Debuts Its Inaugural Exhibition
Three-Sided Coins
Vdk Created a 3D Coin to Spark Conversations About Money, People and the Planet
Virtually Outfitted Landmarks
JD Sports Dressed Big Ben in a Nuptse 1996 Jacket by The North Face
Globally Influenced Perfume Books
A Perfume Atlas is Curated by LV and Jacques Cavallier Belltrud
High Wire City Stunts
High Wire Walker Philippe Petit Will Put on Another Daring Performance
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
AI-Fueled Finance Apps
The 'Finn' App Can Provide Accurate Responses to Complex Queries
Golden Tickets Treasure Hunts
Cj Hendry x Phillips Debut a Willy Wonka Style Treasure Hunt
Stunning 3D-Printed Sunglasses
John Mauriello Drew Inspiration From the Four Elements
Record-Breaking Gummy Mosaics
Haribo Set a Guinness Record for the Largest Gummy Candy Mosaic
Adult-Oriented Classic Board Games
The Clue Conspiracy Board Game Updates a Classic
Tourist Destination Predictions
BonusFinder Canada Used Technology to Predict the Future
Cosmetic Criminal Commercials
Elf's Cosmetic Criminals Ad is a 15-Minute True Crime Parody
Groundhog-Themed Beer Campaigns
Samuel Adams is Sending Drinkers $50k Worth of Cold Snap
Exclusive Zodiac-Inspired Timepieces
Arnold & Son Sculpted a Year of the Rabbit Exclusive Watch
Beauty Crime Mockumentaries
e.l.f.'s Cosmetic Criminals is a True Crime Parody Documentary
Psychedelic Sculptural Art Installations
The Frank Stella: Recent Sculpture Exhibition Opens in NY
Iconic Designer Exhibitions
Louis Vuitton Opened the '200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries: The Exhibition'
Free Content Creation Platforms
'Piggy' Raised $7.7 Million to Launch its Platform on ProductHunt
Oddball Penny-Farthing Bikes
This High-Wheel Bike Features a Motor and Battery
Blockchain-Enhanced Tee Designs
9dcc Makes a Bold Statement with F*CK FIAT Limited Edition Tee
AR Monster Wines
19 Crimes & Universal Monsters Created Limited-Edition Halloween Wines
Africa-Focused Digital Wallets
Abba Payments Debuts a Digital Wallet Service for African Consumers
Kids' Money Management Books
'The Adventures of Ca$hman & Supersaver' Promotes Financial Awareness
Sculpted Meteorite Handbags
The Mini Meteorite Swipe Bag is Made from a Piece of Space Debris
Bag-Accented Bag Designs
Louis Vuitton's Plastic Bag Retails for $4,000
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
Digital Currency Piggy Banks
This 'Smart Piggy' Bank Concept Upgrades a Classic
Dramatically Luxurious Leather Jackets
Louis Vuitton Unveils a Set of Crocodile Leather Jackets
Wizard-Inspired LEGO Sets
LEGO Announces the New Harry Potter Gringotts Bank Set
eCommerce Fraud Prevention Services
Forter Uses Artificial Intelligence to Ensure eCommerce Safety
Golf-Themed Oversized Trunks
Louis Vuitton Launches a New Golf Trunk with a Roll-Out Putting Mat
Kintsugi-Inspired Piggy Banks
The 'Penny' Piggy Bank by Dario Narvaez Can Be Reassembled
Artwork Investment Platforms
Masterworks Art Investing Offers Shares of Famous Works
Anti-Theft Faraday Pouches
OffGrid Releases Its New Self-Folding Faraday Key Fob Bag
Burger-Inspired Mystery Mockumentaries
McDonald's Finland Presents The Icon Mockumentary
Bread-Themed Fascinators
For the Kentucky Derby, Panera Made a Bread Hat with 3D-Printed Details
Comedic Limited-Time Burgers
Burger King Japan is Offering the 'Fake Burger' for April Fool's Day
Wool-Centric Contemporary Exhibitions
Formafantasma Debuts the Oltre Terra Exhibition in Oslo
Parisian Boutique Hotels
Le Grand Mazarin Was Decorated by a Legendary Interior Designer
Crypto-Inspired Hanukkah Chocolates
Manischewitz Crypto Gelt Modernizes a Classic Tradition
Otherworldly Sports Stadium Designs
MAD Architects Design a Striking Stadium in Quzhou, China
Artistic Open-Concept Watch Winders
The Bernard Favre Crown Ultimate Watch Winder is Adjustable
Tree-Integrated Mysterious Art
Banksy Unveils a Mysterious Tree Mural in London's Finsbury Park
Awareness-Raising Banana Art
Fairtrade Created the World's First Non-Fungible Banana
Artist-Inspired Lifestyle Collections
Dumbgood Releases a Range, Inspired by Paul Frank
Anti-Fraud Educational Ads
Interac Punches Back at Fraud with a Unique Program: Fraud Fighters
Villainous Board Game Campaigns
The Monopoly All is Fair Campaign Leans into Competition
Reversible Pizzeria Bucket Hats
The Pizza Hut Hut Hat Was Created in Collaboration with Chain
Scam-Based Board Games
All Mod Cons by NatWest Educates Players on Dangerous Scams and Schemes
Transformed Historic Bank Buildings
Ivy Studio Overhauls the Interior of a Historic Building
Limited-Edition Collector's Boxsets
PLEASURES Collaborates with Hat and Beard Press
AI-Powered Wealth Management Platforms
Era's AI Wealth Platform Secures $3.1M Seed Funding
AI-Driven Decisioning Investments
Monnai Raised $6.5 Million to Bolster its AI Capabilities
Upcycled Sculptural Exhibitions
Madeline Continues to Grow her EPS [Expanded Polystyrene] Series
Ultra-Chic Timepiece Designs
Arnold & Son Has Launched the Time Pyramid 42.5 Watches
Scratch-Proof Gold Timepieces
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Full Magic Gold is Limited-Edition
Bulletproof Crypto Wallets
The 'BitBar' Offline Crypto Wallet Has a 24-Word Seed Phrase
Vibrant Sculptural Art Shows
Misha Kahn Unveils the Staged Show in Friedman Benda Los Angeles
Magician-Designed Playing Cards
Viral Illusionist Billy Menezes Introduces MYSTERY PLAYING CARDS
Extravagant Candle-Filled Suitcases
Diptyque's Candle Suitcase Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary
Digital Banking Metaverses
HSBC Confirms Plans to Debut a Virtual Banking Service in the Metaverse
Bug-Detection AI Initiatives
OpenAI is Offering Rewards to Developers Who Find Software Bugs
Library-Converted Modern Sheds
The Act of Quad Creates the Light Box in Mumbai, India
Champion Tax Ads
H&R Block's Ads Claim All Users are Tax Champions
10-Pound Monumental Books
Unit Editions Publishes the Pentagram: Living by Design Book
Celebratory Puzzle Toys
The 50th Anniversary Rubik's Cube Commemorates Five Decades of Play
Collectible NFT Magnums
Château Malartic-Lagravière Launches a Series of NFT Magnums
Wedding Crasher Weddings
HARD MTN DEW is Throwing an All-Expenses-Paid Wedding with a Catch
Tax-Season Online Campaigns
These Video Ad Spots Urge Canadians to Take Advantage Of Tax Benefits
Mind-Bending Graphic Novels
Mark Russell and Yanick Paquette Drop an Incal Preview Novel
Intricate Basketball Shaped Bottles
Lorenz Bäumer Designs a Special Bottle for Hennessy
Effective Retirement Calculators
Finabled Retirement Calculator Helps People Manage Their Finances
AI-Driven Financial Education Games
Money Smarts Unveils AI Financial Game on Indiegogo
Limited-Edition Astronaut Sculptures
Billionaire Boys Club Reveal Exclusive Astronaut Sculpture
Altered Pyramid Concrete Monuments
MCRDV Unveils a New Bright Pyramid of Tirana with IRI
Chance to win £10,000
Meet the Cornish upcycler inspiring people
Global Affordable Housing Competitions
ICON Challenging Architects & Designers with Initiative 99
Racing-Inspired Bronze Sculptures
Paul Oz Celebrates Michael Schumacher with a New Sculpture
Luxe Film-Inspired Trinkets
The Fabergé x 007 Octopussy Egg Objet is Limited to 50 Examples
Appointment-Basis Art Exhibitions
Perrotin Presents the No More Tears, I'm Lovin' It Exhibition
Logo Duplicating Contests
Coors Light Will Pay You $50,000 To Duplicate Its Logo
Book Monetization Models
Wattpad Introduces a 'Freemium' Model for Creator Monetization
Teen-Targeted Investment Apps
The 'Bloom' App Helps Users to Build Longterm Wealth
Financial Conversation Hearts
CIBC's Valentine's Day Campaign Addressed a Relationship Stressor
Predictive Analytics Platforms
The 'Mad Curve' Business Analytics Platform is Automated
Spiky Inflatable Sculptures
Steve Messam Presents His Sculptures During Clerkenwell Design Week
Bot Monetization Tools
Quora Launches a Monetization Feature for Creators of AI-Powered Bots
Organization-Backed Video Games
Esports Organization 100 Thieves Launches the 'Bank Heist' Game
Large-Scale Meal Campaigns
The 1 Billion Meals Endowment Campaign Provides Food for Millions
Philosopher-Neighbouring Burial Plots
Consumers Can Buy the Burial Plot Next to Karl Marx's Tomb
Rebuilt Historic Train Stations
MAD Introduces the Train Station in the Forest in China
Parisian Eatery-Inspired Streetwear
L'As du Fallafel Gets its Own Collection of Merchandise
Iconic Game Thriller Films
The Tale of the Tetris Game is Being Transformed into a Movie
Helmet-Secured Bike Prototypes
Eliès Hamzaoui Designs the On Board Helmet System
India-Based Investment Platforms
KoTak Mutual Fund Launches a Technology Fund for Investors
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Farm-Inspired Cedar-Clad Buildings
Schwartz and Architecture Designs the Diamond ADU
Cryptopunk NFT Collections
gmoney Secured a $1,000,000 USDC Loan Against His Ape Punk #8219
African Digital Wallet Platforms
Union54 Launches a New Social Commerce Platform Called ChitChat
Strategic Swine Board Games
The 'Badageetchy' Silly Strategy Board Game is for Two to Five Players
Retirement Finance Apps
Udeshi Financial Unveils P.R.I.D.E. Framework for Those in Retirement
Fraud Detection Systems
Jack Henry is Launching a New AI-Powered Fraud Detection Monitor
Democratized Financial Service Tools
Plaid Aims to Make Financial Services More Accessible
Warped Visual Luxurious Timepieces
Berneron's Debut Timepiece is Dubbed the Mirage
Maze-Inspired Performance Spaces
Ma Yansong Designs the City of Time Installation in China
Low-Cost Financial Management Services
Domain Money Greatly Reduces the Cost to Manage Money
Playful Hamburger Campaigns
McDonald's is Asking the Public to Catch Hamburglar in the Burgercuda
Mysterious Painted Car-Door Auctions
Banksy's Crazy Horse Artwork Goes to Auction
Award-Winning Fundraising Platforms
Pledge is Utilized by Companies, Nonprofits, and Individuals
Enhanced Crypto Security Tools
Metamask Unveils Blockaid’s Enhanced Security Alerts for its Users
Anti-Scam Dating Tips
Match Group Adds New Anti-Scam Tips for its Dating Platforms
Tournament-Focused Esports Partnerships
Esports Organization Lionscreed Secures a Deal with Plutus
Bow Tie-Wearing Sculptures
Steven Harrington Unveil His Largest Sculpture Yet
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Friendship-Focused Finance Agreements
'Friends Over Money' Let's You Make Agreements with Friends
Reflective Urban Art Sculptures
Anish Kapoor Unveils a Look at the Mini-Bean Sculpture in New York
Inflatable-Orb Stage Set Designs
BIG Designs the Stage Set for WhoMadeWho's World Tour
Web3 Cybersecurity Initiatives
Hong Kong Debuts a New Metaverse Initiative for Security and Safety
AI Time Capsules
AI Godfathers Lets 1,000 People Buy a Place in the Capsule
Phishing Website Detectors
Akamai Unveils a Tool for Detecting Fradulent Brand Impersonations
Arcade-Style Game Machines
Andamiro USA Launches the 'Crazy Toy 31' Game Machine
Playful Investing Tools
Wait For Wealth is a Tool For Practicing Investing
Rabbit-Themed Artful Installations
Olaolu Slawn Unveils a Large-Scale Installation in DSM London
Retirement Savings Accounts
Robinhood Pivots to a More Comprehensive Service Plan
Futuristic Factory Rooftop Extensions
MAD Transforms a Factory with the Ark Extension in China
Staggered Cubic Skyscrapers
OODA Works on a Rising Geometric Skyscraper in Tirana
Commemorative US Coins
The US Mint Roll Out Coins Celebrating the Bicentennial of Harriet Tubman