This would not be the first time that a con artist managed to get the endorsement of specialists.  Hardly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piltdown_Man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uri_Geller#Scientific_testing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_ray

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_memory#Benveniste.27s_study

to quote just a few...