So it's come to my realization that real world marketing scams have the potential to be recreated on OSRS. No law restrictions and limited Jagex code of conduct creates even more potential for profit.
Pyramid Schemes, Ponzi Schemes, whichever you prefer to name it - a conceptually fraudulent but in some ways legitimate business model that recruits members with the promise of payments for recruiting other members into the scheme.
Now in real life, Pyramid Schemes need to abide by specific laws that restrict their business model - but are still able to exist, and profit. They need to hide their concept under the premise of legitimate product marketing; fundamentally, the product is completely irrelevant and gives the company an excuse for actually existing, other than profiting from leeching the bottom tier of recruits.
In Runescape, there is the option of being completely upfront about the scheme, as people have absolutely no issue with doing shady things for those tantalizing pixels. People are willing to do a LOT of things for the prospect of becoming rich, and it has always created opportunities for clever individuals from profiting off of it.
So here I am, attempting to devise a plan to take advantage of the sick, shameless, backstabbing microcosm that is the OSRS community. I'm essentially looking for a business partner. I need someone who is willing to invest time in creating a brilliant marketing plan to get people to join; with one important thing in mind - people who legitimately invest into this plan will ACTUALLY make money. However, there will ALWAYS be people losing out, who are essentially funding the "investors" in the middle of the latter.
Don't get me wrong, the pyramid scheme IS a flawed system. But, the people at the top WILL cash out. In the end, the people at the bottom will get screwed, and the people at the top will walk with millions.
So first we need to discuss the actual business model - the numbers.
Let's use a completely arbitrary number such as 1m GP. Each recruit must contribute 1m GP to the system. (Most pyramid schemes run on monthly installments, however that seems EXTREMELY tedious for OSRS.)
Every recruit that has paid 1m has the opportunity to recruit 3 other members, who must also pay 1m. After this, they will get their 1m back.
Now this is the incentive - if those 3 people also recruit 3 people who pay 1m, the original investor receives 3m - 3x their original investment, for recruiting 3 people who also have recruited 3 people. If THOSE 3 people recruit 3 people, the original investor receives 9m - and with every tier, makes 3x as much money as the previous.
The business will always make twice the money that it pays out, and it is impossible for anyone but the bottom tier to lose, when it eventually crumbles.
The 1m is an obvious variable, and can be adjusted according to the market. If this plan actually does go through - a separate CC, a discord, and perhaps a website will be necessary. Once people are confronted with the possibility of making huge profit through dedication to our business model, they won't refuse - all they need to do, is recruit 3 people.