Madoff's deal was a complicated, convoluted scheme created by a master schemer. Just because a man is a sociopath doesn't mean he isn't capable of taking others in who are willing to 'trust in the Bernie'. His story is not that unusual, there have been others before and others to come like him because some people like to believe in the 'pied piper' or something for nothing idea.

His last name says it all..........

Bernie MADE OFF as in MADE OFF WITH YOUR MONEY.