Which scheme is designed to defraud by promising future delivery of a product in exchange for an upfront payment?

The advance-fee scheme is specifically designed to defraud individuals by soliciting an upfront payment with the promise of future delivery of goods or services, which are never fulfilled. This type of scheme often preys on the victim's hope or desire for a valuable product or service, leading them to believe that paying upfront is a legitimate requirement. After the initial payment is made, the perpetrators typically disappear, leaving the victim with no recourse to obtain the promised goods or services.

In contrast, a pyramid scheme primarily relies on recruitment, where participants earn money mainly by recruiting new members rather than by selling a legitimate product or service. An investment scheme often involves genuine investments that promise high returns, but they can also mislead investors about the legitimacy of the opportunity rather than simply taking an upfront fee for nothing. Affinity fraud exploits relationships within a specific group, like a religious or ethnic community, but does not focus on upfront fees for non-existent future products. Thus, the advance-fee scheme is clearly defined by the act of collecting initial payments without delivering promised results, which makes it the correct choice for this question.