Yep. Some men are suckers for a woman with a sob story and some women are experts at creating a sob story.
Here's a micro view of what we used to deal with.
Alcoholic brother in law fell off the wagon. She calls my wife on Friday night and is like I need you to check on your brother for the next week. I'm going to Costa Rica. Wife basically told her cancel the trip and be a mother for once in your life or kick him out. She was worried about my BIL destroying her home while she was gone.
By the end of the conversation she had blamed my wife for going to college and being successful for all of the family problems.
I think she's so convincing because in her twisted world she believes it all.