Pyramid schemes, MLMs, and Ponzi schemes are popular also in "developed" countries if the operator finds an unfamiliar topic under which to run their scam.

The early adopters are also generally equally fervent in supporting the scam and believing "it will work in the end".

For example, Finland, one of the top performers in Pisa scores had a famous scam using -yes - foreign exchange trading as it's angle "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WinCapita