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Everything went fine until all the banks collapsed. The government faced such civil unrest that it was forced to compensate shareholders through an elaborate share buyback plan which lasted 9 years. While the total damage is hard to evaluate, the direct damage amounted to US$6 billion or RM24.6 billion. Investors were promised impossibly high yields, either by way of profits or by way of interest paid. Yields were derived from dirty tricks which were not only illegal but carried a tremendous level of risk. Money invested by new investors was then used to pay off the old investors. Panic ensues when money to pay off is insufficient as the number of new investors diminish. Old money meanwhile had been poured in highly leveraged investments or invested in property or provided as loans. Everyone clamored to get their money back at the same time. Eventually, the schemes collapsed dragging with it the economy and political establishments. The latest example of such schemes was in Albania in 1997 where one third of the population was heavily involved in a series of heavily leveraged investment plans which collapsed almost simultaneously. Inept political and financial crisis management led the country to the verge of civil war and disintegration. Despite knowing that such investment plans or schemes are actually scams, some people are still attracted especially if it involved only a minimal sum of initial capital. Often they hope to get out before the imminent collapse. The biggest factor here is greed. Before you invest, study the facts. Do not make investments you do not understand. Do not let yourself to be pressured into investing. Be wary of hot tips or unusual investments. Check with relevant legitimate sources for more information if you are unsure. It is your money that is at stake, so be cautious and smart. Do not discover later that you have been part of an investment fraud or a victim of deception. e particularly careful during times of crisis when money matters the most. The crooks are out there to get your hard-earned money. Do not be a victim of investment frauds or scams.