Makes me sad to hear how many frauds there are. Aren't there easier ways to earn money if that's what you want?
Peacedog, I've heard Adam say in vid of his that he learned Hermetics. He didn't say from where. Then he went to a cave, practiced extensively with elementals (whatever that might be), had an accident or drama of some kind (He said his Buddhism teacher found him), started going the Buddhist way with prior hermetic training, then finding Tai Chi and claiming his skills in Tai Chi come mostly from sitting meditation practice.
So yeah, it's pretty sad how untransparent people can be. Especially teachers of something where authenticity, simplicity, humility, real human connection are expected and required. Not hiding behind the teacher role and manipulating people from there. I'd say one of my teachers is guilty of that as well, though on different but similar level. Still shedding not useful stuff from him and cutting cords.
Makes me kinda pissed at people who should know better. Or present themselves as such. Why not say where you learned from? Unifying spiritual teachings into a new school, hello? Being scared people will go to the source where one learned from as well? Beating those people up won't change anything.
Exposing them - only those who want to listen will learn. And not sure if there is negative karma attached to massively exposing a teacher and waking students up. Maybe there's a core of goodness in their teachings? Yet making students dependent on you in such a way makes you a piece of shit.
Guess we need more Xu Xiao Dongs. And if a teacher doesn't accept public challenges in a MMA style venue with the same ruleset (no crippling, maiming or killing; Kung Fu guys back then had a honor code too IMO), then that tells you all you need to know about that dude or gal in martial terms.
Buyers beware when a product hasn't been publicly assessed in terms of quality!