Using the gullible newbies to take their money for a promise of a huge return has been a popular thing for a long time. The better way is also showing you actually do pay for a while, which makes ponzi work, without that part it would never work. Imagine a ponzi that made many people millionaires, obviously it requires influx of money, I would say as long as you are in profit and can continue to pay, then keep doing it. After a while, since no ponzi can make unlimited money, even if you are Bernie Madoff, you will end up with a loss, and everything will show how you have done something wrong with that money eventually.