Financial manipulation by sects

Incidence

L Ron Hubbard, the founder of the 'Church of Scientology', has been under investigation in the USA, Canada, and Germany. His former devotees accuse of secretly diverting more than $100 million from the Church into his own foreign bank accounts. These former members contend that personal facts conveyed during private counselling sessions were later used to blackmail and intimidate them.

Claim

Sects may find it very easy to manipulate their large numbers of usually totally devoted and unquestioning members, and to enforce silence concerning such manipulations. Under the guise of religion, some sects have inveigled large financial 'gifts' from their members.