Compounding Interest - To reinvest a certain amount of your funds. Instead of "cashing out" returns from a program or investment one reinvests the returns, which give a compunding affect. Many HYIPs offer compounding in order give members incentives to keep their funds in the program. Compounding can be extraordinarily benefitial, however it is not always suggested in the HYIP arena. A good formula for compund interest is: FV = P(1 + r)^n; where FV= future value, P = initial investment, r = rate of return; and n = number of terms.


Cycler - Usually a program that sells banner advertising with the incentive of recieving a % of the money paid for that advertising back. This percentage is usually more then what you paid for the ad. As people purchase ads after you do, your banner cycles off the program and you get the given return. Basically Cyclers are transparent ponzi's, although being that they offer a product, advertising, the term ponzi may not always apply.


HYIP - High Yield Investment Program. These programs claim to invest in high risk, high yield opportunities. An HYIP can be both offline or online, and maybe be investing in a variety of markets. A large portion of online HYIP's are simply ponzi schemes that call themselves HYIPs.


Ponzi Scheme - The term Ponzi is derived from the actions of a man names Charles K Ponzi. It is any program or claimed investment opportunity which relies on new investments to pay off the older ones. Those whom invest first are thus paid their returns from those who invest after them, leaving the last investors the ones who lose out. Many HYIPs who claim to be trading, investing, etc are really only running a ponzi scheme. Some have also compared the US Social Security system to a ponzi scheme.


E-Currency - An electronic form of payment. Examples of E-currencies are E-Gold, Evocash, E-Bullion, Paypal, Netpay, Pecunix, etc. Some currencies are backed by precious metals, in the case of E-Gold and E-Bullion, while others are backed by trust, such as Evocash, and some are backed by actual currency like Paypal.


HYIP Rating Site - A site in which either the site owner, or site members rate/vote for current programs. Rating sites can be a good sourse of information, but also you must realize they can be manipulated by members and site owners. Use rating sites in order to find when programs started, how much they pay out and what others have to say about them.


Referrals - Any member who has signed up for a program using a link provided by oneself. Referral programs are available for many HYIPs as well as other business ventures. They can be quite rewarding at times. There is however a quesion of whether or not referring people to programs that you know are a scam is ethical or not.

Thanks for posting... that's some good starter info.