Anyone could fall prey to a cult recruiter and be forced to stay through psychological manipulation.

The people who find themselves in cults are not unintelligent or unobservant.

If someone you know seems to be moving into a group that seems questionable after a life change, ask about their problems and see what you can do to help.

If you can provide an attachment outside of the cult, you can get them out.

Alexandria Stein researched Totalism[1] for 25 years after leaving the Newman Tendency. Her knowledge about the damage that Totalist cults inflict on their members through attachment manipulation is neatly stuffed into Terror, Love, and Brainwashing[2]. If you know someone within a Totalist group or are interested in information about cults, I suggest you read it.

[1]Totalism: A social, economic and/or political system in which some authority wields absolute power.
[2]https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/13559925981