When people are raised to believe fantastical things without evidence, they're probably less able to reason from first principles about offers that are too good to be true.
The real interesting thing is that the irrational things that non-religious people believe in tend to satisfy the same psychological needs as religious beliefs. The Illuminati secretly ruling the world provides the comfort to people with an external locus of control that someone is in charge and they have a plan, just like God (or the Devil or whoever). The fact that most people are sheep who can't see the Illuminati's schemes but a few special people can reinforces the idea that some of us are special people, just like how the Israelites were chosen. Etc.
A common phrase around our non-religious household was "why do you have to be so cynical all the time?". This cynicism has protected me from such rubbish as homeopathy, natropathy, magnetic bracelets and other things those family members have wasted time and money on over the years.
He makes mercifully short mention of the usual explanation—
“greed” on the part of ordinary people trying to get “above their
station”—which has been trotted out after every financial fraud
for the past 300 years.
Is it the ethic of rugged self-reliance? Or the idolization of entrepreneurs and the ultra-rich?
I bring up religion because America is much more religious than other Western countries, and it seems like people who believe without evidence might be more susceptible to confidence games.
I wouldn't be surprised if the reason that Americans get swindled more often (not that this is ever actually proven) is simply because they have more money and are significantly more likely to donate it to charity than most other parts of the world.
As a non American I've noticed something similar at least in US media there tends to be a lot of respect given to people who are wealthy or in positions of power you see it a lot in movies and television Generals, senators, congressman etc are almost universally depicted as praiseworthy figures.
When I was a kid in all of the American music videos the performers tended to drape themselves in gold jewelry, drink champagne, ride around in luxury cars etc. Sometimes it seemed over the top to the point of parody but at some level I think it reflects an aspiration towards wealth.
Here in Australia there is much more of a tendency to mock and ridicule the wealthy and powerful. There is even a word for it "Tall Poppy Syndrome" i.e. The flower that grows to be the tallest gets cut down the soonest. I think part of it is cultural the whole ANZAC myth thing - people tend to be distrustful of anyone in a position of power here politicians, bosses, bankers, lawyers etc.
"When people are raised to believe fantastical things without evidence" -- WTF dude. Do you literally just make up stuff and pretend it relates to an article you read?
Name one reference to religion in this article?It looks like you're the one who believes things without evidence????
The article answered it's own rhetorical question....Why?
“openness to innovation has always meant openness to creative deception.” That makes sense. When as a culture you embrace change, sometimes things go wrong.