<prompt> Human: So my friend who has a pretty bad gambling problem despite being like 19 has been investing his money in these websites that havent been open for more than a month. So far he has over 1000 in one, says hes getting 3-4 daily but is reinvesting it as he gets it. He says he cant withdraw any of the principle amount, he only gets the interest back. He describes it as getting a ticket, and you can either reinvest it or deposit it, the smart thing to do is to reinvest it. This sounds extremely shady to me, especially since these sites have not been open more than a week or two. The one he uses the most is called my24hourincome and has a very small group. Hes addicted with the idea of passive income, and calls himself a venture capitalist because he does things like this with all of his money. So far he hasnt returned anything. Do I need to seriously warn him? Is it all a scam?  <response>: Incredibly obvious ponzi scheme. Your friend should switch to withdrawing his dividends in order to recoup part of his loss. The operators will pay it out in order to create the appearance of legitimacy, at least until it comes time for them to roll it up.Is it all a scam?Yes, definitely. Do I need to seriously warn him?Dunno. Your friend is a gullible idiot who is doomed to a permanent state of financial catastrophe unless he changes his ways. If you think you can fix him, go for it. But if you think hes the type of person who will take it personally, double down, and end your friendship when it turns out you were right, maybe it isnt worth the trouble. 