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 basic instance of a faux wealthy individual – or somebody claiming wealth to control or deceive others.
Sadly, there are numerous extra folks like her on the market. So that you just gained’t get fooled, listed below are some indicators of a faux wealthy individual and how one can spot them.
1. They depend on bank cards to pay for all the pieces.
An individual could have costly, luxurious items. Nonetheless, 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 continually 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 through the use of their bank cards to maintain up appearances. This normally means they don’t have any financial savings and all the pieces they personal is bought on borrowed cash. In distinction, the rich usually have entry to money or money equivalents and don’t have any have to borrow to fund client expenditures.
2. They should impress folks.
One other signal of a faux wealthy individual 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.
Due to this fact, they go to additional lengths to indicate off standing gadgets that give the impression that they’re wealthy. This might embody sporting costly clothes or attire gadgets with designer labels. Or, they may drive luxurious automobiles and keep in costly lodges. All of those behaviors point out somebody who’s attempting to make use of perceived wealth to realize standing.
Suppose of people that continually put up 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 purple 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 exhibiting off costly sports activities automobiles, a big e book assortment, and a formidable mansion. The general public later realized that he leased the mansion and automobiles 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 beneath has a short abstract of Lopez’ rise to fame and fall from grace.
3. They don’t meet their commitments or they violate the legislation.
In accordance with criminologists, individuals who have interaction in a single sort of crime typically have interaction 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 individual is extra prone to enterprise into authorized and moral grey areas. Since they’re mendacity about their monetary state of affairs, there’s a excessive likelihood they have interaction in other forms of misconduct – corresponding to failure to repay loans or failure to fulfill 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’ll’t maintain deeper conversations about constructing wealth.
In lots of instances, individuals who have constructed a big web price are sometimes comfy speaking about cash. That is very true for individuals who have constructed their wealth by way of investing and entrepreneurship. As well as, managing giant quantities of cash typically means the rich need to have a working data of superior tax and monetary administration methods.
So, faux wealthy folks typically reveal themselves by their lack of monetary data. Most individuals can discuss on a floor stage 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’ll’t present particulars on how they constructed their wealth because it doesn’t come from their expertise. Nonetheless, their falsities are normally revealed by way of a scarcity of detailed consciousness of superior authorized or accounting issues.
5. They continually brag about who they know or the place they’ve been.
Have you ever seen that the individual in query finds methods to namedrop necessary connections? It’s as a result of they know the ability of those connections. Moreover, they need to acquire clout in social circles, emphasize social connections, and make themselves appear extra necessary.
Faux wealthy persons are the kind to brag about locations they go to or put up costly holidays on social media. However when it comes time to fulfill these folks or frequent these locales, there’s all the time an excuse why they’ll’t. Due to this fact, be cautious across the boastful and take all the pieces 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 accordance 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. Nonetheless, he finally introduced an excessive amount of consideration to himself and was outed on social media. This successfully ended his charade and precipitated him to retreat from the general public eye.
6. Their circle consists of different faux wealthy folks.
In accordance with Jim Rohn, we’re the typical of the 5 folks we spend essentially the most time with. So, likelihood is in the event that they grasp round different faux wealthy folks, they’re all in the identical boat. That is usually as a result of folks with related pursuits collect to study from one another or to offer 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 data 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’ll’t afford. And when it comes time to pay, they often “neglect their pockets” or have to borrow cash since they “don’t come up with the money for in that account proper now.”
Different excuses embody the explanation why they’ll’t host gatherings, why they’ll’t present you the costly automobiles of their Instagram feeds, a story in regards to the causes of their newest enterprise failure, or some schedule battle that stops you from assembly necessary contacts. Ultimately, the justifications run dry, and the reality comes out.
That is exactly what occurred to con artist Anna Sorokin. Ultimately, her acquaintances uncovered her fraud when her bank card stopped working and she or he “borrowed” cash from a pal. The mountain of lies she had constructed imploded and uncovered her. This “pal” later turned her over to the FBI. After the trial, the jury convicted her and she or he 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 disguise it.
What Separates the Actual from the Faux?
Within the digital age, appearances simply disguise the reality. So, how will you distinguish a faux wealthy individual from a real article? In accordance with quite a few authors, actual wealthy folks display sure traits. For instance, they:
-
- Learn persistently for self-improvement.
- Set and construct objectives round their ambitions.
- Construct relationships with profitable folks.
- Give attention to their well being.
- Undertake a frugal mindset, and spend cash on high quality gadgets at a reduction.
- Monitor what they spend.
- Save and make investments 10% to twenty% of their revenue persistently over time.
- Work so much (at the very least 50 hours every week).
- Restrict leisure display screen time and junk meals.
- Usually management their mood, ideas, and feelings.
In order for you a broader dialogue in regards to the habits and existence 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 a lot of these on this record.
Be aware, that broadcasting wealth to affect others is mostly not on the record of the traits of the wealthy. If somebody is actually rich, they don’t have to show it to you. Solely these with one thing to cover have to flaunt their wealth. So, if somebody poses as a faux wealthy individual, it is going to finally come out by way of their attitudes and conduct.
You Would possibly Additionally Get pleasure from
Materials Connection Disclosure: Among the hyperlinks on this article are “affiliate hyperlinks.” Should you click on on the hyperlink and make a purchase order or sign-up, Saving Recommendation will obtain an affiliate fee – which is able to assist maintain the positioning going. We solely suggest merchandise we expect will add worth to savingadvice.com readers. We’re disclosing this in compliance with Federal Commerce Fee’s 16 CFR, Half 255: “Guides Regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Promoting.”
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 convey folks collectively throughout language and cultural boundaries. Whereas most of her time is devoted to both working with youngsters, she additionally enjoys good buddies, good meals, and new adventures.
