Charles Ponzi has a problem. The Boston Post has printed a glowing article about his arbitrage scheme to purchase International Reply Coupons in Italy and redeem them in the United States for massive profits. The favourable press has caused a line of eager investors to quickly form in front of his office in the Niles Building that soon stretches down School Street. Thousands of Bostonians are begging him to invest their money. His problem? The arbitrage scheme doesnt actually work - thanks to the United States Post Offices bureaucratic process for redeeming International Reply Coupons - and in just 10 days time Charless current investors will be expecting their promised 50% returns.