How Easy Is It To Fall For a Agent Provocateur?

 This is a true story.

I lived in the Arlington area for 3.5 years (2010 to 2013).....in a apartment complex.  Across the street from my place were three additional apartment buildings. 

One day.....all hell broke loose, but lets re-arrange this story at the very beginning. 

In one of these apartment buildings....about six months prior....some new gal moved in.  Mid-20s.....attractive....and very chatty.  She was always wanting to start up a conversation with just about anyone at the entry of the building.  

Folks might argue, but probably a quarter of all the residents knew this gal within six weeks of arrival.

She claimed....proudly....as to working for the CIA.

Most people, who do work for the CIA....rarely bring this up, and it's mostly with friends only.

At some point, she had a young guy (early 20s) hooked up with her.  It's safe to say that 'relations' were happening.

Then, she let the young guy know that she was shipping off to the Middle East for a sensitive mission, and that she could hire an assistant.  To make all this possible, she needed some of his private information for the HR paperwork.

This guy totally believed her chatter.

He would give notice at his regular government job, and packed up for a trip with her.  They would fly into his parent's location as they left, and....well....Mom and Dad didn't buy any of her story, the CIA stuff, or the potential job.

They made a call or two (Mom and Dad), and the story fell apart.  There was no secret agent job.....no assignment in the Middle East, and this dimwit was not connected to the CIA.

The authorities back in Virginia did some investigation but there's no clear law broken.  

The guy wanting to believe the fake CIA gal?  I always thought....after hearing the various stories, that everyone at the apartment complex wanted to  believe her story. 

This is basically how a agent provocateur operates.....they have a decent story, and work at various ways to convince you of the story.  The more simple the story....the easier the 'sell' becomes.  

How this girl ever rented the apartment?  I was told that her parents gave her a monthly check and she was just out living on her own.  What happened after this?  Unknown.  My humble guess is that she's in some other American town.....telling people of her CIA missions, and working to convince new people of secret assignments coming up shortly.