High-Yield Investment Programs
High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIP) are unregistered investments typically run by unlicensed individuals – and they are often frauds. The hallmark of an HYIP scam is the promise of incredible returns at little or no risk to the investor. A HYIP website might promise annual (or even monthly, weekly, or daily!) returns of 30 or 40 percent – or more. Some of these scams may use the term “prime bank” program. Fraudsters may use social media to promote a HYIP website or may encourage investors to use social media to share information about a HYIP website with others. If you are approached online to invest in one of these, you should exercise extreme caution - they are likely frauds.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIP) are unregistered investments typically run by unlicensed individuals – and they are often frauds. The hallmark of an HYIP scam is the promise of incredible returns at little or no risk to the investor. A HYIP website might promise annual (or even monthly, weekly, or daily!) returns of 30 or 40 percent – or more. Some of these scams may use the term “prime bank” program. Fraudsters may use social media to promote a HYIP website or may encourage investors to use social media to share information about a HYIP website with others. If you are approached online to invest in one of these, you should exercise extreme caution - they are likely frauds. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does High-Yield Investment Programs mean in the cited reference?
High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIP) are unregistered investments typically run by unlicensed individuals – and they are often frauds. The hallmark of an HYIP scam is the promise of incredible returns at little or no risk to the investor. A HYIP website might promise annual (or even monthly, weekly, or daily!) returns of 30 or 40 percent – or more. Some of these scams may use the term “prime bank” program. Fraudsters may use social media to promote a HYIP website or may encourage investors to use social media to share information about a HYIP website with others. If you are approached online to invest in one of these, you should exercise extreme caution - they are likely frauds. [1]
High-Yield Investment Programs connection map
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Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.