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Charles F. Ponzi

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Outlaw

The Resume

    (March 3, 1882-January 18, 1949)
    Immigrated to the United States at nineteen
    Confidence man and swindler (Securities Exchange Corporation, Boston, 1919-20)
    Namesake for a pyramid type fraud (Ponzi Scheme)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was indirectly responsible for the collapse of the Banca Rossi in Montreal (1905).
    Following his release from jail for the Banca Rossi debacle, he wound up in jail again for smuggling immigrants into the United States.
    Ponzi thought International Reply Coupons (used to prepay reply postage to letters sent overseas) were negotiable securities.
    He took unfair advantage of immigrant communities faced with post-World War I inflation and economic uncertainty, promising 50% return in 45 days on monies so invested.
    Most of the International Reply Coupons 'invested' in were from countries whose currencies were decimated by World War I (notably Germany, Romania, Yugoslavia, etc.), in the mistaken belief that hyperflation meant better returns on investments.
    The collapse of his Securities Exchange Corporation subsequently led to the collapse of three Boston commercial banks which Ponzi had invested in with investors' funds.
    It took four years for authorities to press charges against Ponzi. During that time he promoted Florida real-estate development which turned out to be mostly underwater.
    Following his discharge from prison in 1936, Ponzi was deported back to Italy as an Undesirable Alien.
    Mussolini's Fascist regime promptly hired Ponzi as 'financial adviser' to a Fascist-controlled syndicate which quickly went bankrupt.
    He died in the charity ward of a Rio de Janeiro hospital (20 years prior, his net worth was $3.5 million).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was overly self-confident.
    He took advantage of his charisma.
    He was an early user of professional public-relations managers.
    He was charming and affable.

Credit: Iludium Phosdex


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 69 Votes: 55.07% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 16 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 84.21% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 55 Votes: 65.45% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 81 Votes: 61.73% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 62 Votes: 75.81% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 111 Votes: 76.58% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 128 Votes: 71.09% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 285 Votes: 69.12% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 285 Votes: 68.77% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 585 Votes: 69.57% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 1251 Votes: 77.94% Annoying