How Young Scammers Sell the Illusion of Success and Make Millions

New opportunities to reach audiences continue to emerge, and as a result, the “format” of communication between false prophets and their followers evolves.

But here’s what’s interesting! In the past, the authority of “miracle workers” was built on their supposed “age-old wisdom” and “spiritual experience.” Modern-day “gurus,” however, are much younger, technologically savvy, and no longer offer “experience” or “life wisdom.” Instead, they promise “secret knowledge” that guarantees a shortcut to happiness and success.

Why Do People Believe in "Shortcuts"?

Irrational Faith in Fairy Tales

Humans are naturally inclined to believe that difficult problems (business, health, financial stability) can be solved with a “magic pill.” This is a powerful psychological lure.

The Hope of Being Special

Many are drawn to the idea of being “chosen” or possessing “special abilities.” False gurus always promise their victims access to an exclusive circle of elites who are privy to a secret—an exceptional, hidden knowledge. This gives the victim a sense of belonging to a privileged society, which plays right into the hands of the fraudster, who benefits from the illusion of exclusivity.

Social Proof and Influencers

On the internet, it is easy to stage success and create the illusion of wealth and recognition. Likes, followers, and photoshoots with luxury cars all contribute to the illusion of the “teacher’s” achievements.

From "Spells and Candles" to "Crypto Wealth"

Modern false prophets have become highly tailored to specific segments of society:

• For the less educated or more superstitious – They sell “magical” oils, spells, candles, and rituals while creating YouTube channels flooded with “motivational” or “miraculous” videos.
• For the more educated and ambitious – They offer courses on “crypto business,” “social media growth,” and “multi-level marketing,” promising outrageous returns and instant dividends.

But no matter the approach, the result is the same: you will get scammed!

Examples of the "New Wave" of False Gurus

In the digital era, “gurus” increasingly promote themselves through social media and messaging apps. They sell the educated audience on the idea of making “quick money” through cryptocurrency, forex trading, and “unique investment opportunities.” Meanwhile, they offer the masses esoteric items, “proven rituals,” and webinars on “spiritual practices” that supposedly guarantee instant success.

Some of those mentioned as sellers of such courses or “mystical” success formulas include (among others):
Anita Solovey, Alena Venum, Bogdana Goncharuk, Ekaterina Shukhnina, and Alexander Orlovsky.

The list of “info-entrepreneurs” or, more accurately, “infogypsies” and “coaches” is enormous. Their pages are filled with promises of the “fastest path to success.”

Among those promoting “crypto success” (not crypto literacy, but the guarantee of getting rich quickly), one of the most notorious is Kirill Doronin, associated with the infamous Finiko project, built on grand promises of multiplying investments.

There are also “coaches” from PRIZM and other questionable crypto pyramid schemes who love to call their sects, private channels, and Telegram groups “Academies.”

The Standard Scheme of These “Gurus” Looks Like This:

1. Massive advertising on social media, showcasing a luxurious lifestyle.
2. Creating a closed community or Telegram chat.
3. Selling a “course” (often costing from $500 to $1,000), supposedly revealing “secret strategies.”
4. Fake testimonials from “students” celebrating their newfound success—awards from forums like “Leader of the Year,” “Successful Success,” and fake magazine covers featuring their faces.
5. The ultimate scam move: A dramatic announcement that the “guru” was offered a fortune (e.g., $100 million) for their secret knowledge, but they selflessly chose to share it with their followers—for free—except for the small course fee.

And when too many victims start complaining, the “guru” undergoes a rebranding: new face, new packaging, new project, new page—same scam.

Manipulation Techniques Used by Crypto Gurus

Pseudo-Science

They use complex terminology, anglicisms, fancy formulas, fake charts, and pseudo-analytics to create the illusion of expertise.

Distrust in Official Sources

Since many people distrust banks, regulators, or traditional business education, they easily convince themselves that they can learn complex knowledge quickly from someone who claims that “classical education is for fools” and that the real geniuses take their courses instead.

Social Pressure

In closed chats, newcomers are bombarded with “warm welcomes” from pre-trained partners of the “guru” — supposed “veterans” who act as witnesses to their brilliance. This creates a cult-like atmosphere where critical questions are suppressed.

Constant Urgency Pressure

Phrases like “Invest today!”, “Only a few spots left!”, and “Enrollment closes tomorrow!” create a sense of panic, pushing people into impulsive decisions.

The Inevitable Outcome: Loss of Time, Money, and Illusions

What Happens If You Fall for the “Shortcut” Scam?

• Irreversible financial loss (you won’t get your money back).
• Loss of self-confidence and belief in personal potential.
• Psychological trauma (feelings of deception, shame, and guilt).
• Damaged reputation and trust issues with loved ones (especially if you involved them in the scheme).

How to Protect Yourself?

✔ Verify credentials and claims – Real experts don’t appear out of nowhere. They have established online histories, transparent track records, and credentials (if their expertise requires one). Not just luxury cars (rented for photos), fake screenshots, and “testimonials.”

✔ Be wary of too-good-to-be-true promises – Excessive profitability and instant results are always red flags.

✔ Research reviews and investigations – Many “gurus” have been exposed in journalistic reports. It costs nothing to do your homework.

✔ Don’t fall for “limited-time offers” – Urgency is a classic manipulation tactic designed to shut down logical thinking and trigger emotional decision-making.

✔ Ask a lot of questions – Don’t hesitate to ask directly: “What happens if your course doesn’t work? Who will refund my money?” If the response is aggression, deflection, or empty slogans like “You’re just not ready for success,” that’s a major red flag.

Conclusion

False prophets and “fake teachers” may have evolved and gotten younger in the modern age, but their essence remains unchanged:
🔹 Exploiting people’s belief in their own uniqueness and divine destiny.
🔹 Taking advantage of irrational faith in miracles.
🔹 Feeding on the desire for an easy path to success.
🔹 Playing on the fear of admitting a mistake and recognizing that one has been deceived.
🔹 Manipulating the hope that “one more try” will fix everything (even after huge financial losses).

Self-deception is the fraudster’s best ally. These scammers know that people want to believe in fairy tales—it’s just their job to wrap the illusion in an attractive package.

The real path to success requires time, effort, and real knowledge.
There are no secret shortcuts.