How precious metals sellers psychologically manipulate elderly conservatives

From the article:

“There is an evil that’s against us,” the precious-metals salesman says to his elderly, conservative client on the phone. Later, he adds, “they want to see this country go down in flames.”

The dramatic language is part of the sales pitch at Metals.com, caught on recorded phone calls. They display in disturbing detail the psychologically manipulative tactics the company has used to gain the confidence of elderly conservatives and convince some of them to buy gold and silver coins at markups as high as 219%.

The playbook reflects classic persuasion and manipulation techniques that researchers of sales psychology say are used by skilled salespeople and con artists.

Worth reading for a concise look at con artistry in practice.

People familiar with Alex Jones and his ilk will probably know that their primary income streams arise from various forms of conspiracy and disaster fearmongering. They promote disaster survival supplies, anti-vaccination with a side of "protective" nutritional supplements, gold hoarding, etc. It's intriguing (to me, at least) that so much of the style is borrowed from, or borrowed by, the Trump campaign; as the article notes, these are hallmarks of cons aimed at the elderly and financially insecure.