Everyone knows it's a scam, they are all just betting they won't be the last sucker out the door. The people you see hyping this stuff are all, save for a cluel

Everyone knows it's a scam, they are all just betting they won't be the last sucker out the door. The people you see hyping this stuff are all, save for a clueless minority of largely actual children, doing so hoping to bring in a few more rubes to drive the price up and exit. Sometimes (always if you aren't on the inside to know when the rug is going to be pulled) you are the rube and you try to recoop your losses. MLM works the same way "If I only could get a few more people to sign up under me, then I'd be able to get some of my money back." In magic/mentalism I think this technique is called "instant stooge"[0], basically play off the agreeable nature of people to get them to shill for you once, at that point they are trapped and you can escalate the ask. Come to think of it cults work the same way, after you made a fool out of yourself it's easier to double down rather than see yourself as a fool. In short, most people aren't victims but instead aspiring coconspirators who didn't make the cut. [0]https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-instant-stooging-in-magic-performances-a-cheat/819845 https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-instant-stooging-in-mag...