Do you honestly think the ponzi threads posted here are comparable to nigerian email scams and indentity thieves or are you just grasping at straws to try make a point?
Yes. Ponzi scams are a felony crime. Knowingly participating in them with the intention of making a profit is also a felony. When they involve real money, people who turn a net profit on Ponzis often have their asssets seized to pay off those who took a loss. They cause incalculable economic damage, and that is why they are illegal.
They are as bad, or worse, than Nigerian email scams. Anyone who participates in one knowingly is a criminal himself, whether or not they've gotten around to enforcing the law yet.
I don't think that the ponzi games here actually fit into the law book definition of ponzi. Most games show all transactions and it's part of the game that new payments can stop at any time (and it's also obviously possible for the person that runs the ponzi to deposit themsevels in the beginning.) Non of this is hidden.