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Fermage attracted substantial investments — reportedly around $25 million — from an array of backers, including military veterans and academics who were enamored by his past successes. Many investors viewed him as an eccentric genius and suspended their disbelief, hoping to profit from his promised technological marvels. Unfortunately, Fermage often provided fabricated updates and forged documents to maintain the illusion of legitimacy, misleading his investors while simultaneously draining his father's life savings.