Until people realize computers and technology aren't scary and out of their realm of understanding, these sorts of scams and misinformation will happen. I used to be worried that my career in the IT industry would become obsolete once people caught on that computing isn't as difficult as they believed. Boy was I wrong. Tech support will be around forever because people are afraid.

It's the same with anything really. Look at cars and the medical field. If some doctor tells you that weird pain in your little toe is caused by a problem with your heart that requires open heart surgery, you might be inclined to let him operate, even if the actual problem is far less severe. In the end, it's a person's own responsibility to educate themselves or ask for 2nd opinions, or risk getting sold some swamp land in Florida.