The focus of the article was on the few students he manipulated and lived with over an extended period but he manipulated employers, agencies, friends, family etc. as shown by court records. It wasn’t just the young and vulnerable. He was a master. An interesting portrayal of how a sociopath works.
Everybody thinks they’re too smart to fall for a scam right up to the point they do. Look at Bernie Madoff. At least all he was after was money.