This was the evidence presented by the State as it closed its case against Stanton Mark Hermanus, 31, and his sister, Marcia Destiny Hermanus, 29.
It accused them of luring unsuspecting investors with promises of unrealistic returns and a refund when their investment contracts expired.
The charge sheet alleges that Investone "clients" invested R10,000 and were given a range of options offering R12,300 on a one-month investment to R12 million on a three year investment.
However, victims - many of whom put money into the scheme after hearing about it from satisfied friends and family - told the court they received no returns or refunds of their initial investment.
Witness Melany Evon testified that she and her husband invested his retrenchment package in the hope of making more money.
"We thought our investments would give us a better life, but it just pushed us deeper into debt," she said.
They had heard about the scheme from a "trusted" friend who worked on the premises from which Investone operated. The friend had described Stanton Hermanus as "such a good businessman".
Another witness, John Rossouw, invested in the scheme after hearing about it from a friend.
He received a letter congratulating him on his investment and an invitation to a banquet, but nothing else, he told the court.
The Hermanus siblings have pleaded not guilty to 125 counts of fraud, 124 charges involving unfair business practices, one violation of the Banks Act, two of contravening the Financial Institutions Act and one of violating financial services regulations.
Stanton Hermanus would testify in his own defence when the case resumed on March 29, his lawyer William Fisher told the court.
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