In late 1996, the pyramid schemes that had taken off after Albania began life as a post-communist, transitional state, began to collapse. Less than six months later, the meltdown would leave thousands dead, the nation on the brink of civil war and huge questions about how some 40% of the country's wealth had been swallowed up in what amounted to little more than Ponzi schemes. This is the story of what happened, why it happened and of the lives that were runined by it.