Charles Ponzi (March 3, 1882–January 18, 1949) was an Italian immigrant to the United States who became one of the greatest swindlers in American history. He was a financial crook from the 1920s who told people he had a business that made money by exploiting mispricing in international postage reply coupons.

Ponzi told investors that he could provide a 40% return in just 90 days compared with 5% for bank savings accounts.

Mr. Ponzi was a snake, he would con a few people into investing in his company, then he would talk to more people to get more investments which he used to pay some interest to the original investors. So as long as money kept flowing in, existing investors could be paid. Ponzi's bait to lure in investors was the idea that postal coupons purchased in Europe could be redeemed in America for six times their value. Ponzi was flooded with funds from investors, taking in $1 million during one three-hour period. Ponzi's lifestyle changed, he was dressing the finest suits, covered his wife with jewels and bought a mansion in Lexington.

The business eventually crased in 1920 when newspapers and banks started to investigate him. Rumors of his criminal past emerged and investors panicked and began withdrawing their money from his company. This caused the entire scheme to come crashing down like nothing. Ponzi pleaded guilty to mail fraud, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison. He was released after three and a half years to face state charges. He was again found guilty and sentenced to nine years in jail. Before entering state prison, Ponzi jumped bail and fled to Florida, where he set up a scam to sell "prime Florida property" to gullible investors. Florida authorities quickly wised to Ponzi's scam. He fled to Texas, where he shaved his head, grew a mustache, and tried to flee the country as a crewman on a merchant ship. He was caught and sent back to Massachusetts to serve out his prison term. Charles was released in 1934 and was immediately deported to Italy since he never had become an American citizen . Ponzi spent the rest of his life drifting in and out of trouble with the law. He died in Rio de Janeiro on January 18, 1949, penniless.