They must be EVEN MORE semi-literate, EVEN MORE inarticulate and even more mediocrely intelligent to have fallen prey to that. It is a remarkable achievement by an unremarkable person. He saw how easy it would be to fleece them and pull the wool over their eyes and get them to believe in him and in anything he told them. He read them and pounced and bought them and owns them. The amazing thing is they think they are winners.