I take your point Octavius, but i feel you are looking at the situation from the benefit of being a balanced happy outsider.
As I said, these women are vulnerable to begin with. They believe their new 'love's story about needing money because they want to be neeed, and that's the button he's pressing. What beter salve to a woman's wounded psyche than the thought that a man needs her again, and promises to make her happy.
Yes of course,. common sense shouts loud that this is a stupid idea, but a woman in this situation is not listening to her head, she's listening to her emotions, and right now they are promising her an end to her upset, and a future life, and she hears that loud and clear above the common sense message that she may pick up, but carefully puts aside.
I maintain it is a sad situation, and that given the circumstances we can all do things which our rational selves, along with rational strangers, will see as particularly brainless.
But emotion always has a stronger motor than logic, and the thought of love and happiness will always overide the need for financial caution. How else would this sad situation keep on happening?
In answer to AB's final comment - gullible, or just a woman who fell in love - the answer is - both.
That's the saddest part of all.