Chapter 9 Episode 1： John L — A Portrait of a Scammer

 

John L — Portrait of a Scammer

John L. is in his early thirties.
He lives in Bay Area, California, comfortably embedded in the heart of Silicon Valley.
By day, he’s a senior software engineer at one of the Bay Area’s big tech firms-Lingedin.
At the same time, he works for a fraudulent crypto exchange called ssirius.com , now forced offline after legal scrutiny.
And if that weren’t enough irony, his primary employer is a unicorn HR and recruitment tech company — one that prides itself on “trust, talent, and transparency.”

It’s the perfect disguise: a professional recruiter and engineer who, outside work, weaponizes trust itself.

After months of interaction, especially involving financial transactions, I’ve come to understand him well: John is delusional, emotionally unstable, and pathologically controlling.

1. Delusion — Living Inside His Own Script

Unlike traditional scammers who rely on rigid playbooks, John’s operation consists of tech-savvy freelancers — programmers with genuine skills, too much free time, and no moral restraint.
That lack of structure gives him absolute creative freedom.
He scripts his own psychological theater, an illusion where logic and fantasy melt into one.

As a 1.5-generation immigrant, fluent in both English and Chinese, John moves fluidly between Western reasoning and Eastern subtlety. He could have been a cultural bridge; instead, he turned his bilingualism into a weapon. Each word, each tone, is calibrated to manipulate trust.

But his weakness lies in logic, his reasoning is fragile, circular, and self-contradictory.
That’s how his world of lies began to crack.

2. Emotional Bipolarity — The Manipulative Performer

John’s mood shifts like a broken switch. One moment he’s warm, casual, and calling you “brother.” The next, he’s hostile, cold, or verbally cruel. This instability isn’t accidental, it’s a tool.

He plays roles: the mentor, the friend, the victim. He gives small profits first, just enough to make you believe he’s genuine. But the second you hesitate or question him, the performance turns dark. He withdraws affection, mocks your doubt, or pressures you with guilt.

His manipulation method can be summarized in four words: carrot and stick , executed with the precision of a psychological experiment.

3. Control — The Core of His Character

John’s entire existence revolves around control. His so-called “investment community” is built like a game , one where he is the only player who knows the rules. He dictates your tempo, your logic, your emotions.

Using gaslighting, denial, and calculated coldness, he erodes your self-trust until you depend on his “guidance.” He cultivates the illusion that only he can make you money, that only he understands the market. Challenge him and he retaliates with silence, sarcasm, or emotional blackmail.

His need for control extends beyond his victims. Even his partner appears trapped within his digital orbit. When I found her contact information later, I wasn’t sure whether she knew the truth, but John already had access to her phone, her messages, and likely her entire digital life.

The Five Classic Tactics of Investment Scams

1. The Expert Mask
They present themselves as rational, experienced investors. They don’t comfort you, they dominate you with “knowledge.” Their arrogance makes you feel inferior, and dependency grows from that imbalance.

2. Shared Interests, Controlled Direction
They start with your interests , books, business, culture, but never agree. They gently redirect, disagree, and reshape your logic until your thinking mirrors theirs.

3. Small, Realistic Wins
They simulate “real” trading experiences, small profits, minor losses, to build credibility. The realism disarms you; it’s how they earn your emotional investment.

4. The Verification Trap
If anyone asks to “verify your funds”,  with screenshots, transfer confirmations, or account access — walk away. That’s the beating heart of every financial scam.

5. The Final Act: Block or Drama
When exposed, they choose one of two exits:

• Disappear. Block, delete, vanish , leave no trace.

• Perform. Cry, plead, play victim.
  They’ll claim desperation, coercion, mental illness, anything to manipulate sympathy.
  They may even mix truth with lies to confuse you.

What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed

Stay calm. Dissect their messages. Identify the inconsistencies. Follow the technical trails — usernames, time zones, writing styles, transaction IDs. Every small clue builds a clearer portrait.

Patience and pattern recognition will reveal the truth — and perhaps, justice.

Because in the digital age, understanding deception is the first defense against it. And every time a scammer’s mask is lifted, the next victim is one step safer.

Stay alert. Stay skeptical. Always.