I originally became interested in so-called High Yield Investment Programs, HYIP's, in 1998 when researching alternative sources of finance for investment in areas seen as a bad risk for geo-political reasons. I wrote a series of articles around that time for a finance magazine, in the hope of attracting criticism and comment – which I did! I have now put these together as a small book, and this is the result.

At that time I was resident in Zimbabwe, but I have had to relocate, temporarily at least. However I was fortunate in that my job allowed me to function from almost anywhere. Now that I have retired, the same applies!

This book does not claim to be a treatise on High Yield Investment Programmes. It does not even aver that such investment programmes exist. It is not a "First Steps in HYIP's", like "First Steps in French". It is nothing more than a compendium of information which has come my way – I leave you to make your own mind up!