Psychic scams How psychic scams work
Psychic scams come in many different guises, but all ask for money in return for psychic or other spiritual services.
You'll receive an email, letter or telephone call claiming to be from a clairvoyant, medium or psychic. The stories used by psychic scammers vary, but communications often offer:
- a solution to future troubles ‘foreseen’ by a psychic
- to remove a jinx or curse that’s affecting you or will affect you
- the chance to buy or donate cash for a lucky charm or potion from a psychic
- an opportunity to benefit a psychic blessing or good-luck spell
- psychic insights or secrets to help or rapidly improve your personal or financial wellbeing.
Scam psychic communications from fake clairvoyants and medium scammers often come out of the blue. Psychic scam mail may appear to be personally addressed to you, but in fact the same scam letter is usually sent to hundreds or thousands of people.
Bogus psychic predictions of misfortune or bereavement and aggressive, threatening mailings have been identified by Consumer Direct as particularly potent forms of psychic scams.
If you're a victim of a psychic scam
Consumer Direct can help if you think you're being targeted by psychic scammers
Psychic scams can be particularly unpleasant if received by vulnerable people or those already experiencing distress or misfortune.
If you think you've been approached by a psychic or clairvoyant scammer, do not respond or send money. If you've already sent money, do not send any more.
Destroy any scam or fraudulent mailings and warn friends and relatives to be on the lookout for similar psychic scams.
The Office of Fair Trading estimates over 3 million people in the UK fall victim to mass marketed scams every year, collectively losing £3.5 billion. Fewer than 5% of psychic scam victims report their experience.
If you think you've been the victim of a psychic scam, or you'd like to report a possible scam, contact Consumer Direct.