How Scammers Borrow Credibility — and How to Spot It

In this episode of The Fine Line Files, Dominique Molina unpacks the unsettling case of Sherry Peel Jackson — a former IRS agent, CPA, and Certified Fraud Examiner whose professional authority became the perfect disguise for one of the most persistent financial fantasies in America: the tax defier movement.

But this isn’t just a story about tax law or conspiracy theories.

Fraudsters don’t succeed because their schemes are brilliant.

Through Sherry’s journey from IRS insider to anti-tax crusader, we explore:

Why scammers recruit people with titles, credentials, and insider backgrounds

How movements use “beards” to make false claims feel true

Why intelligent, well-trained professionals can still fall for misinformation

The difference between real expertise and performative authority

Simple tests to tell whether a testimonial is trustworthy—or a trap

In a world overflowing with polished social media experts, paid reviews, “former government insiders,” and influencers selling certainty, this episode offers a practical guide to spotting the difference between a trusted voice… and a well-positioned prop.

Because facts don’t need a beard.

How do you know who to trust online?

How do scams use credible people to lure victims?

Why do smart professionals sometimes fall for bad information?

What’s the difference between questioning the system and rejecting reality?