There is a difference between an individual falling for a scam and a lynch mob. In the individual's situation they may not talk about to anyone, if they do many

There is a difference between an individual falling for a scam and a lynch mob. In the individual's situation they may not talk about to anyone, if they do many would be told it is a scam and wouldn't get scammed. In the story they are talking about it with others and there is no one saying "it's a scam/fake" so they reinforce their beliefs rather than have them challenged.