Like their very own not-so-secret police.
True story. Someone I know, who operated in the gray areas, was deciding on opening up his own business. He was choosing between a private day school, an employment agency, and a store-front church. He ended up choosing the employment agency and did very well.
I often wonder if a science fiction writer, on a bet, decided to start a religion, and made money on it....wait, wait, that’s already been done!