Affinity Fraud

Partisanship, Parasites, and Polarization

Are direct-marketing scams destroying the republic? A serious question.

By Paul Krugman

Opinion Columnist

Aug. 21, 2018

Why should marketing scams be linked to political extremism? It’s all about affinity fraud: once you establish a persona that appeals to angry, aging white guys, you can sell them stuff that will supposedly protect their virility, their waistline, and their wealth.