In 2013, Russian-born Anna Sorokin posed as an artwork socialite and German heiress within the New York Metropolis artwork scene. Utilizing her connections, Sorokin arrange a faux studio and manufactured false paperwork to substantiate her claims of getting a $67 million belief fund. All in all, Sorkin defrauded members of the New York artwork and social scene of greater than $275,000 between 2013 and 2017 (right here). She is a traditional instance of a faux wealthy particular person – or somebody claiming wealth to govern or deceive others.
Sadly, there are a lot of extra folks like her on the market. So that you simply gained’t get fooled, listed here are some indicators of a faux wealthy particular person and how one can spot them.
1. They depend on bank cards to pay for every thing.
An individual might have costly, luxurious items. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply they’re wealthy. If you wish to know if somebody is faking, take note of how they pay for issues. Are they always utilizing bank cards? Or, do they pay with money or debit? Have they got a black card? Has their fee ever been denied?
Many individuals dig themselves deep into debt by utilizing their bank cards to maintain up appearances. This normally means they don’t have any financial savings and every thing they personal is bought on borrowed cash. In distinction, the rich usually have entry to money or money equivalents and don’t have any must borrow to fund shopper expenditures.
2. They should impress folks.
One other signal of a faux wealthy particular person is how far they may go to impress folks. They want validation from these with wealth and standing as a result of they thrive on the approval of others.
Subsequently, they go to further lengths to indicate off standing objects that give the impression that they’re wealthy. This might embody carrying costly clothes or attire objects with designer labels. Or, they may drive luxurious vehicles and keep in costly motels. All of those behaviors point out somebody who’s making an attempt to make use of perceived wealth to realize standing.
Assume of people that always publish on social media about their wealth. Some work it into conversations to let folks understand how a lot they paid for a specific merchandise. Others appear to have a knack for redirecting all their conversations again to their costly purchases and achievements. All of those are pink flags that issues aren’t as they appear.
One latest instance of this was marketer Tai Lopez. He grew to become notorious after he posted a advertising and marketing video displaying off costly sports activities vehicles, a big ebook assortment, and a formidable mansion. The general public later realized that he leased the mansion and vehicles and he had by no means learn his books. In September 2025 Lopez was sued by the SEC. The Lawsuit alleged that Lopez was working a “Ponzi like” scheme (right here). The video under has a quick abstract of Lopez’ rise to fame and fall from grace.
3. They don’t meet their commitments or they violate the regulation.
In keeping with criminologists, individuals who interact in a single form of crime typically interact in different crimes(right here). For instance, individuals who commit homicide are prone to have a historical past of assault. Moreover, individuals who cheat on their taxes are additionally extra susceptible to defraud their employers.
Primarily based on this logic, a faux wealthy particular person is extra prone to enterprise into authorized and moral grey areas. Since they’re mendacity about their monetary scenario, there’s a excessive likelihood they interact in different kinds of misconduct – comparable to failure to repay loans or failure to satisfy different commitments. Though folks make monetary errors, patterns of violations and misconduct point out that an individual isn’t as financially safe as they need others to consider.
4. They will’t maintain deeper conversations about constructing wealth.
In lots of instances, individuals who have constructed a major internet value are sometimes snug speaking about cash. That is very true for individuals who have constructed their wealth by investing and entrepreneurship. As well as, managing giant quantities of cash typically means the rich need to have a working information of superior tax and monetary administration methods.
So, faux wealthy folks typically reveal themselves by their lack of monetary information. Most individuals can speak on a floor degree about investing and private finance. They might even have practiced a number of conversations or ready scripted responses to keep away from suspicion. However when pressed, they reveal that they don’t have monetary literacy. Maybe they will’t present particulars on how they constructed their wealth because it doesn’t come from their expertise. Nevertheless, their falsities are normally revealed by an absence of detailed consciousness of superior authorized or accounting issues.
5. They always brag about who they know or the place they’ve been.
Have you ever seen that the particular person in query finds methods to namedrop essential connections? It’s as a result of they know the facility of those connections. Moreover, they wish to achieve clout in social circles, emphasize social connections, and make themselves appear extra essential.
Pretend wealthy individuals are the kind to brag about locations they go to or publish costly holidays on social media. However when it comes time to satisfy these folks or frequent these locales, there’s all the time an excuse why they will’t. Subsequently, be cautious across the boastful and take every thing with a grain of salt.
For instance, in 2017 Ricardo “Maserati Ric” Agnant claimed to be a former member of the Miami Dolphins to enhance his courting prospects. In keeping with Black Leisure Tv in 2014, Agnant managed to sneak his approach into the NFL Regional mix on the Dolphins coaching (1). He later exaggerated his day on the sector in his makes an attempt to catfish quite a few girls and con automotive dealerships into pondering he performed for the NFL. Nevertheless, he finally introduced an excessive amount of consideration to himself and was outed on social media. This successfully ended his charade and brought about him to retreat from the general public eye.
6. Their circle consists of different faux wealthy folks.
In keeping with Jim Rohn, we’re the typical of the 5 folks we spend probably the most time with. So, likelihood is in the event that they dangle round different faux wealthy folks, they’re all in the identical boat. That is usually as a result of folks with comparable pursuits collect to study from one another or to supply mutual help to one another.
In distinction, people who find themselves legitimately rich additionally spend time collectively. This is because of shared pursuits and life circumstances the wealthy maintain, in addition to for networking, improved entry to alternatives and information transmission.
7. There’s all the time an excuse.
As with all liars, there’s all the time an excuse. The faux wealthy keep away from plans that contain costly eating places, ticket venues, holidays, or different issues they will’t afford. And when it comes time to pay, they incessantly “neglect their pockets” or must borrow cash since they “don’t come up with the money for in that account proper now.”
Different excuses embody explanation why they will’t host gatherings, why they will’t present you the costly vehicles of their Instagram feeds, a story concerning the causes of their newest enterprise failure, or some schedule battle that forestalls you from assembly essential contacts. Finally, the reasons run dry, and the reality comes out.
That is exactly what occurred to con artist Anna Sorokin. Finally, her acquaintances uncovered her fraud when her bank card stopped working and he or she “borrowed” cash from a good friend. The mountain of lies she had constructed imploded and uncovered her. This “good friend” later turned her over to the FBI. After the trial, the jury convicted her and he or she was sentenced to 4 – 12 years for grand larceny and theft providers. Her story proves that the reality will come out ultimately, irrespective of how exhausting you attempt to conceal it.
What Separates the Actual from the Pretend?
Within the digital age, appearances simply disguise the reality. So, how will you distinguish a faux wealthy particular person from a real article? In keeping with quite a few authors, actual wealthy folks show sure traits. For instance, they:
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- Learn constantly for self-improvement.
- Set and construct targets round their ambitions.
- Construct relationships with profitable folks.
- Give attention to their well being.
- Undertake a frugal mindset, and spend cash on high quality objects at a reduction.
- Monitor what they spend.
- Save and make investments 10% to twenty% of their revenue constantly over time.
- Work quite a bit (no less than 50 hours every week).
- Restrict leisure display screen time and junk meals.
- Typically management their mood, ideas, and feelings.
If you need a broader dialogue concerning the habits and life of the wealthy, two good sources are The Millionaire Subsequent Door by advertising and marketing professors Thomas Stanley and William Danko and Wealthy Habits by accountant Tom Corley. Each books focus on the habits of the rich, together with lots of these on this checklist.
Be aware, that broadcasting wealth to affect others is usually not on the checklist of the traits of the wealthy. If somebody is really rich, they don’t must show it to you. Solely these with one thing to cover must flaunt their wealth. So, if somebody poses as a faux wealthy particular person, it can finally come out by their attitudes and habits.
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Jenny Smedra is an avid world traveler, ESL instructor, former archaeologist, and freelance author. Selecting a life overseas had strengthened her dedication to discovering methods to carry folks collectively throughout language and cultural obstacles. Whereas most of her time is devoted to both working with kids, she additionally enjoys good mates, good meals, and new adventures.