Always remember action speaks louder than words.
Just observe what he does and pay scant attention to what he says.
You'll soon figure out which way to go.
Reading your extremely well written first post, I thought "this woman is smart, what is she thinking " then I read your second post about the "con man"
He must have that act absolutely down pat.
Obviously he revealed his true self pretty quickly.
If there is a silver lining anywhere in this story, it would be that.