Being smart isn't a requirement to be a scammer. Many of them are just working off of scripts that someone much more intelligent and manipulative put together for them to use.
Being stupid also isn't necessarily a requirement for being scammed. If you can catch someone off guard or take advantage of an emotional vulnerability as in this case, you can exploit them.
Being stupid also isn't necessarily a requirement for being scammed. If you can catch someone off guard or take advantage of an emotional vulnerability as in this case, you can exploit them.