Shekhar Suman on pyramid scams: Population, politics, and illiteracy fuel the problem
Synopsis
Shekhar Suman used the promotional platform of 'The Pyramid Scheme' to deliver a pointed social warning — that illiteracy, population pressures, and a broken system keep producing fresh victims for financial fraudsters and political con artists alike. He even revealed a near-miss with a scammer back in 2000, making his message personal and urgent.
Key Takeaways
Shekhar Suman cited illiteracy, population, politicians, and the system as key reasons Indians fall for scams and false promises.
He urged people to immediately reject anyone pitching overnight get-rich schemes at their door.
Suman disclosed a personal near-miss with a scammer in the year 2000 , which he caught 'just in the nick of time'. 'The Pyramid Scheme' is produced by The Viral Fever , directed by Ashish R Shukla and Shreyansh Pandey , and streams on Prime Video .
The show features an ensemble cast including Ranvir Shorey , Paramvir Singh Cheema , and Aanjjan Srivastav , among others.
Actor Shekhar Suman has spoken candidly about the social conditions that make Indians vulnerable to financial scams and hollow political promises, linking the crisis to illiteracy, population pressures, and systemic failures. His remarks came during the promotional run of his latest streaming series, 'The Pyramid Scheme', which released on Prime Video and has drawn strong early audience response.
What Suman Said
Speaking alongside co-stars Ranvir Shorey, Shreyansh Pandey, and Paramvir Cheema, Suman was asked whether India's problems are compounded by suppressed aspirations among a large section of its population. His answer was direct.
'One big reason is the population here, the politicians, the system, and the literacy here. And because of being illiterate, a lot of things are not understood. And this is the misfortune of this country or any country. There are people who make fools of themselves. And a new community is ready to become a fool, next in the line. They never learn,' he said.
Suman urged viewers to be alert to overnight get-rich pitches. 'Through this medium, I want to tell people that this overnight get-rich scheme, all those who say that you will get so much money tomorrow or day after or at the end of the month, first catch them and beat them. As soon as they come to the house, they come to explain to you,' he added.
A Personal Brush With a Scam
The actor also shared a personal anecdote, revealing that someone approached him as far back as the year 2000 with what appeared to be a lucrative scheme. 'I did not have any knowledge of this. And he was trying to explain to me a lot. So it seems very tempting to listen. In the middle of the way, I thought he was making a fool of me. So just in the nick of time, I caught him. Otherwise, maybe I would have become a part of it or I would have been conned. So it is a matter of understanding,' he said.
Suman noted that the logic to debunk such schemes is simple: 'If it was so easy, then the whole world would have been rich, and no one would have been poor. So all these schemes are all scams.'
About The Pyramid Scheme
The series delves into the mechanics and human cost of pyramid schemes, a subject Suman clearly feels extends well beyond fiction. The show is produced by The Viral Fever, created and co-directed by Shreyansh Pandey, with Ashish R Shukla as co-director. The ensemble cast includes Paramvir Singh Cheema, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, Ashish Raghava, Akhilendra Mishra, Smita Bansal, Vijay Kumar, Indresh Malik, Ravi Bhel, Sushant Singh, Sonal Jha, and Sadanand Patil.
Why It Resonates
Pyramid and multi-level marketing scams have cost thousands of Indian families their savings over the decades, with cases reported from rural districts to metropolitan centres. Suman's remarks tap into a recurring national concern — that financial literacy gaps and aspirational desperation continue to make fresh victims every cycle. This comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of online investment schemes and social-media-driven 'get rich quick' networks across India.
Point of View
Yet financial literacy remains absent from mainstream schooling. The fact that a well-known actor admits he nearly fell for one in 2000 underscores how persuasive these pitches are regardless of education or status. What mainstream coverage misses here is the structural angle: as long as aspiration outpaces opportunity, the demand side of financial fraud will never dry up, no matter how many schemes are busted.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shekhar Suman say about pyramid schemes and India's social problems?
Suman said that population, politicians, the system, and illiteracy are the main reasons people fall for scams and false promises. He argued that a lack of financial understanding keeps producing new victims cycle after cycle.
Did Shekhar Suman personally encounter a pyramid scheme?
Yes. Suman revealed that someone approached him in the year 2000 with what he later recognised as a scam pitch. He said he caught on 'just in the nick of time' and avoided being defrauded.
What is 'The Pyramid Scheme' and where can it be watched?
'The Pyramid Scheme' is a streaming series produced by The Viral Fever, created and co-directed by Shreyansh Pandey, and available on Prime Video. It explores the world of pyramid schemes and stars Shekhar Suman, Ranvir Shorey, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and a large ensemble cast.
Who else stars in 'The Pyramid Scheme'?
The cast includes Ranvir Shorey, Paramvir Singh Cheema, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, Ashish Raghava, Akhilendra Mishra, Smita Bansal, Sushant Singh, and several others.
Why are pyramid scheme warnings especially relevant in India?
Pyramid and multi-level marketing frauds have repeatedly cost Indian families their savings, particularly in areas with lower financial literacy. Regulators have increased scrutiny of online investment schemes, but experts say aspirational desperation continues to make new victims vulnerable.
