Millions of people have fallen victim to a so-called ‘infobusiness’. Those behind it, often referred to as info-scammers, are typically pseudo-trainers and coaches who promise fabulous wealth and instant success but, in reality, sell little more than empty words. Their audience is wide-ranging: from young mothers on maternity leave to experienced entrepreneurs chasing quick profits.
One of those drawn in by the promise of easy success was trader Sergey Zhugan. He hoped to make millions but lost a significant amount of cash instead. In this film, Sergey agrees to take part in an experiment to see how image-makers construct the ‘financial guru’ persona.
The experience proved to be a sobering lesson for Sergey. He no longer looks for dubious shortcuts to wealth and has returned to running an honest business. But while some learn from their mistakes, others continue to believe in miracles. Despite high-profile criminal cases involving notorious figures such as Elena Blinovskaya and Ayaz Shabutdinov, the number of victims continues to grow. What keeps this cynical industry alive? And why are such fraudsters so difficult to expose?
