Only stupid people would believe that.
Some very smart and informed people have been hustled usually because they don't think they can be.
If I was running a con you would be a prime target because you don't think you can be.
Of course, people can be naive.
It’s very simple, when we figure out the hustle, we are no longer ignorant to that hustle. We no longer have any reason to trust the liars other than our bias is so directed at the liar, for whatever philosophical reasons, that we choose to support the lie.
You don’t call someone stupid just because you disagree with them.
I know I can be hustled, happened many times. I believe in trust, but verify.