Tony Bennis

Typical manipulative tactics include
-Complaining
-Playing victim
-Inducing guilt
-Comparing
-Offering excuses and rationalizing
-Feigning ignorance
-Emotional blackmail
-Evasiveness
-Demonstrating fake concern
-Undermining people
-Blaming others and using “who me?” defenses
-Lying
-Denying
-False flattery
-Intimidation
-Giving the illusion of selflessness
-Shaming
- Using foot in the door techniques
and more

Seemingly small acts like (saying a thank you or being gracious) these go a long way in forging bonds where people truly like you and listen to you.

They often cash in on the cluelessness of their victims by saying they are imaging things or making something up. An already clueless and unsure person is less likely to question this idea.