Tough Crowd . . .

Oh sure, now the world acts like it’s suddenly uncool to bilk investors out of billions:

For a half-century, Arnold and Joan Sinkin worked hard to raise their four kids, put a roof over their heads and build up a nice nest egg for retirement.

The Brooklyn-born couple moved out to Long Island and then down to Florida, where they planned to spend their golden years living off their nearly $1 million life savings.

That all came crashing down this past week when Wall Street legend Bernie Madoff’s empire of fraud collapsed.

“I put my kids through college, made four weddings, did everything to put away some money,” said Arnold Sinkin, 76, a retired carpet salesman, from the couple’s condo in Boynton Beach, Fla. “Two days ago, it was all wiped out.”

The couple lost about 85% of their life savings and their retirement dreams are gone with the cash.