( illustration by Yarko Art )
In the USA the problem of being ripped off by scammer psychics seems to be getting worse…
I am too often approached by people, sometimes in tears, who have lost thousands of dollars and are wondering what their options are… This can happen to very level headed and often professional people. Their need for help and pain relief have led them to trust unscrupulous characters who have promised them whatever they wished to hear…
The Two Most Common Rip-Off Scenarios are…
- Men and women who have broken up with a partner and have been assured that their relationship can be fixed and that the psychic will bring them back together… It often spreads over months and the psychic demands more and more money for esoteric rituals or tools ( amulets, pyramids, crystals, gold coins, etc… ). Many people lose their life savings in this way…
- The second scenario is when an individual seems to encounter a run of “bad luck”… The psychic tells him/her that there is a “shadow” or a “curse” hanging over them and that rituals need to be done in order to clear the problem… Again, this psychic asks for large amounts of money for tools that he/she needs to use and his/her time involved in such ceremonies…
In both cases the clients do not get any results or their money back…
What about legal issues?
What happens if the person goes to an attorney? The attorney will usually advise them to try to settle out of court and get back as much money as possible in that way. Going to court will not usually be recommended since such cases are hard to prove and a judge will almost always rule in the favor of the psychic. In court, the psychic will bring a good case. They will say that they did their best and this will be accepted as good enough, even though they usually verbally and even occasionally in writing guarantee results! They will say they offered a service and fulfilled their part.
As a general rule, I also recommend to never pay large sums of money in cash, but to instead use checks or credit cards and always ask for an immediate detailed receipt or invoice.
How can the person who has been ripped off get any satisfaction?
People generally feel embarrassed and foolish and go no further. However, I always advice them to go to newspapers, radio and/or television and tell their story. Going public in some way will help to make sure that other people don’t go to that same psychic. I also suggest using the internet, websites and online review sites such as Yelp and social media to tell your story there. There are so many ways to do this now that the word easily spreads out. Be careful however to be fair and reasonable and to only write the truth, without exaggeration and without personally disparaging the person involved. I say this as a precaution. You don’t want to put yourself in a position to be sued for libel…
Top Tips for Not Getting Ripped Off by “Psychics”
- Avoid Psychic Hot Lines.
- Check their prices and avoid a psychic who charges a lot less or a lot more than others in their class.
- If a psychic says he/she will fix your broken relationship, take away a curse or change your bad luck, STOP! Never go for this.
- Check if a psychic has a web site, blog, testimonials and literature on their background and perspective that you can check out before you make an appointment.
- Avoid psychics with titles such as “Mother”, “Sister”, “Madam”, “Mrs.” who promise to do it all for you.
- Try to go with a psychic who is not using Crystals, Tarot Cards, or Astrology. Not because you will get ripped off but because the reading may be too general and open to interpretation vs. really about you. Get a recording of the reading.
- When a psychic promises times, dates and places, be cautious! It’s easy to make predictions and be very specific, but those predictions may never happen…
- If possible go to someone who has been well recommended to you. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions during the reading.
- Feel free to ask the psychic before you start what she/he will do during the reading, how she/he works and what you can expect.
- If you have any real doubts about a psychic, trust and connect with your own intuition. Get out immediately if this is what you feel you should do.
- If someone tells you that you need to come up with a large sum of money to clear your aura, a dark cloud around you, or bad spirits, or to bring your lost love back, GET OUT!
- Never give a large sum of money in cash and always get a detailed receipt.
