[ruytlm]

I suspect they're not using Ponzi scheme literally, more as a shorthand for the kind of scheme that promises plenty, but doesn't actually do anything.

See e.g: http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/25/books/nothing-but-zzzz-bes...

[kaffeemitsahne]

Luckily we already have a word for that kind of scheme, "scam".