My wife and I have two children - a boy and a girl, ages 8 and 6. Conversations around the dinner table are fun. Their inquisitive minds keep us on our toes - needing to be able to answer a broad spectrum of questions ranging from "What's that?" to "How does it work?" and "Why did that happen?" Since I work for the Better Business Bureau, I'm always asked, "Dad, is that a scam?" The most recent probing question came from our son: "Dad, what's a Ponzi?"

The word has been in the news thanks to some high-profile cases in Idaho and throughout the country.

I had fun using Mom and Sister in my pretend Ponzi scheme - explaining they could each join my club for $10. I promised money in return. I showed them how once they were in the club, they could invite others into the club, collecting money and paying some to me. Then, we ran out of people willing to join my club. I wasn't able to make good on my promise to double or triple everyone's cash - and I was in trouble.

That's the simplified version of a Ponzi scheme or cash gifting. Regardless of what you call it, it's a pyramid scheme where one person or a group depends on others giving money. Even my 6- and 8-year-old children could see how the pyramid will only collapse with time.

Now, Ponzi schemers are following the technology trend of online video to find more people willing to take the bait and join the club. YouTube is where you find the Ponzi schemes these days.

According to one online video analytics company, there are 22,974 "cash gifting" videos on YouTube. Many people are watching the videos - looking for easy money.

The concept behind every video is basically the same. The person in the video uses vague language and big promises that they've discovered a new program to help people make money through cash leveraging or cash gifting. You can watch the person open an envelope full of cash to prove the program works.

They'll tell you the plan is perfectly legal. It's not. There's a reason Bernie Madoff is in big trouble.

If you see one of these videos, ask yourself:

® Do I have to make an "investment" or give money to obtain the right to recruit others into the program?

® When I recruit another person into the program, will I receive money in return?

® Will the person I recruit have to make an "investment" or give money to obtain the right to recruit and be paid for getting other people to join?

A yes answer to any of the questions means you should click the stop button and watch something else.

Dale Dixon is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, a not-for-profit organization serving Southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. Reach him at 342-4649 or ddixon@boise.bbb.org.