pyramid scam

Any "business" plan that is a scam and completely fake. Usually involves the employee (a.k.a. the sucker) to pay the employer, rather than the other way around. Most notable for the use of the pyramid method of gaining money: you start by suckering one of your friends to dish out his money, then he gets one of his friends to do the same, until all your friends are broke and pissed off at you.