Yes.... I agree with Martin's overall assessment of the world of HYIPs... - but perhaps the use of the word 'scam' may need some defining, because on the basis of history and prediction it would appear that under it's current usage, ALL HYIPs are scams, it is simply a question of WHEN they scam that defines when they are so identified.
But I would argue a different point of view :

I don't have a problem with any HYIP leaving the arena if it has not pretended to be something that it is not; nor do I have a problem if the admin give notice of closure after a successful run...

To my mind, scam HYIPs are those that set up with absolutely no intention of making any repayments, or that set themselves up as legitimate real businesses purely to fool new investors [ and even experienced ones] into believing that there is a real and genuine increased likelihood of longevity yet no such intention on the part of the admin exists. THOSE are scams.

If it is clear from the outset that a HYIP is what it is, and investors enter into an investment agreement knowing full well what they are entering into, then I don't think that this is in fact a scam : After, if the admin of the HYIP haven't actually lied or made any attempt to deceive, then surely there should be no complaint about 'unfair play '.

I am currently invested with what I know to be HYIPs based on no business model at all, what we would currently call a scam HYIP, yet I have entered my investment agreements with my eyes wide open to the risk involved; I have calculated my risk and investment amount and if I profit, yippee, but if I lose my money then I shall be disappointed but I shall not cry 'foul', since I already KNOW they will disappear, - I just hope I profit and get out soon enough before they do...

Readers will have observed my earlier comments on the possibility of Opulentia disappearing [ posted just before they did] , and Martin raises the valid point that ' should we call Opulentia a scam since a lot of investors made a good profit, because they stayed around long enough ?' Well, I think Opulentia did well for many investors, but where they went wrong [ and this was a sad disappointment and end to what had been a good admin ], was in their enticement to obtain a final extra block of money in the last seven to nine days with no intention of making good the promised returns. THAT is what they did wrong, and I would suggest that it is that last unnecesssary element of greed on the admins part that has cheesed off a number of investors.

What Opulentia should have done was make an announcement of their intended closure to prevent investors putting in new money, although we have to accept that investors waiting for a major payout would have been understandably aggrieved. HOWEVER, given the longevity of their programme, I would suggest that such investors would have already made a profit, and have simply reinvested an element of that profit, ie not their hard earned real world money.

So unless we all agree that all HYIPs are scams AS SOON AS THEY APPEAR, then I don't think it is right to moan about those HYIPs that are 'honest' in their lack of pretence so long as they intend and actually DO make repayments to investors.

Scams are those that make no repayments or pretend to be something which they are not, ie they are thieves and liars.