pyramid scheme
noun [ C ] US uk/ˈpɪr.ə.mɪd ˌskiːm/ us/ˈpɪr.ə.mɪd ˌskiːm/
宝塔形集资（公司从新客户处筹集资金并非是为了他们的利益投资，而是用于清还旧账的一种欺骗投资者的方式）
a way of deceiving investors (= people giving money to a company hoping to get more back) in which money that a company receives from new customers is not invested to their advantage, but is used instead to pay debts owed to existing customers