No. 5: Charles Ponzi, of Ponzi scheme fame, set up shop in Boston

You've probably heard of a Ponzi Scheme – in 2009 Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for his biggest-ever Ponzi swindle. But did you know that Charles Ponzi, the eponymous originator of such scams, set up the first one when he lived right here in Massachusetts? For a time, he resided in a luxurious home in Lexington, which recently went on sale. Early in the 20th century, the Italian immigrant figured out how to turn a profit on an aspect of the international mail system. Only

You've probably heard of a Ponzi Scheme – in 2009 Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for his biggest-ever Ponzi swindle. But did you know that Charles Ponzi, the eponymous originator of such scams, set up the first one when he lived right here in Massachusetts? For a time, he resided in a luxurious home in Lexington, which recently went on sale. Early in the 20th century, the Italian immigrant figured out how to turn a profit on an aspect of the international mail system. Only da…