(Washington, DC) - Bernard Madoff perpetrated a multi-billion dollar scam that defrauded investors around the world for decades until his arrest in December 2008. Madoff’s fraud led many to financial ruin and his name is now synonymous with what many consider one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. What every investor should know is that Ponzi schemes, even as extensive as Madoff’s, are not too difficult to suspect if you know the warning signs. A few simple actions can help investors sidestep the potentially devastating impact of a classic Ponzi scheme.