Keep in mind that I'm talking more metaphorically, but in some cases literally also.
What are some common things you see in cults and such? Marketing towards college students talking about how their group is going to reach a utopia if they donate their life savings, intimidating members from leaving, financial intimidation of ex-members by identity theft and financial theft, intimidating ex-members by constantly calling them or mailing them, intimidating people who criticize them by suing outlets of negative press, stealing personal information.
Doesn't this sound a bit similar to some fringe groups on the internet?
I think if someone's pretty much going around on a college campus telling people that they can reach utopia if they give the person their credit card information and such to them that's a cult.