Long ago I read accounts written by successful con men, and they highlighted the relative ease of convincing "intellectuals" - once you've bought their emotion through flattery. Something like, oh regular people would never understand this scheme, but you will have no problem with it, and even if it's flimflam, they'll emperor's clothes it because they now need to live up to the genius hype.

I tried it out myself and by golly it sure did work. (Don't worry I only used it to convince some sheep to do the actual right thing, was so surprised it worked the first time I had to convince myself by doing it again.) Anyway, take it as a tool for good.