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Vindicator ago

How do these people fall for this stuff? It's like they have not sense whatsoever.

Cara_C ago

Smart and sensible people can get sucked into scams and cults. The scammer usually offers love, acceptance, encouragement, enlightenment, hope, or promises of a brighter future. At the outset, the scammer and his or her group often seem nice and reasonable. It's often all positive at first. Once the victim trusts the scammer, the brainwashing, control, and abuse start, little by little. The victim thinks they're dealing with a good person who cares about them and has a lot to offer them if they can stick it out, so when things start seeming weird, they often give them the benefit of the doubt. As they invest more time, energy, and money, they become more reluctant to acknowledge they've been scammed. Like a gambler, they keep investing more and more, hoping all their time and effort will eventually pay off. By the time they realize it's an abusive situation that will never yield any kind of positive outcome, they're often trapped or feel trapped, drained of energy, money, resources, self-esteem, and outside support.

Vindicator ago

I suppose you're right. That would really suck. I have a relative who actually shelled out money to do one of those silly-ass hot coal walks. But she also gave herself diverticulitis and pancreatitis trying to do a 40-day juice fast, so...Darwin Award winner.