One of the most disheartening aspects I’ve found in working as an online psychic in the number of clients who have either been taken to the cleaners by psychic scammers or who have become brainwashed into believing that legitimate psychics should be able to do what the scammers claim they can do.

These are injustices that have not only been unleashed on vulnerable and unsuspecting clients, they also make it next to impossible for legitimate psychics to practice their crafts.

Imagine coming across a psychic who could not only read other people’s minds but could also tell you what they are thinking, feeling and doing at any given time and on top of that could make them do anything you wanted them to do.

In truth no one can do this. Not the best psychic in the world, or the worst scammer on the planet. But there are those in the latter category who claim that they can, and who have no problem taking advantage of your desire to believe them.

So what can you do to avoid some of these pitfalls and get the most out of a genuine psychic reading? The first step is educating yourself on the more common psychic scams and learning to tell the difference between genuine psychic services and parlor tricks.

Here are some common scams that you want to be on the lookout for, especially if you’re feeling particularly vulnerable or are susceptible to psychic trickery. While there are many different types of scams, the ones you most want to be careful of (because they can drain your pocketbook and undermine your self-confidence quicker than you can say “tom foolery”) are those who claim that they have all the answers, or who try to scare you into believing that only they can help you, or who try to trick you into spending more money for additional services.

In particular, you want to watch out for those who:

• Tell you that the person you’re inquiring about is your “soul mate:”

If a psychic tells you that the man who is not calling you, not returning your text messages and has you blocked on social media is your “soul mate,” you can bet you’re being taken for a ride.

In fairness, this is not exactly a scam. Or not always anyway. Sometimes it’s just a convenient buzz phrase to grab your interest and keep you spending your hard earned money. But it’s dishonest, and therefore falls into the category of a psychic scam.

Part of the reason for this is that so many people think that a soul mate is someone you’re supposed to end up with, and if your main objective is finding out why someone has shut you out, having a psychic tell you that this person is your soul mate will definitely grab your attention.

The bottom line is that a reader who paints a flowery picture for you about ending up with the man (or woman) of your dreams with no evidence to support that — other than telling you s/he’s your soul mate or that you’re destined to be together — is either completely out of touch or is pulling out this well-worn phrase as a means of extracting more of your hard-earned money.

• Tell you that you’re surrounded by negative energy that prevents you from getting what you want.

This is a common ploy used to get you spending more than your initial agreed-upon fee. It’s often shrouded in feelings of care or concern for your well-being. It’s presented as add-on service, as in “I can tell you what’s going on in your life, but if you want me to fix it, it will cost you more.”

The truth is, if your psychic really cared about you, he or she would guide you toward understanding your situation, empowering you to make better choices and showing you how to manifest the outcome you desire. He or she would not feel the need to try to extort more money from you or resort to bogus fear tactics.

• Offer to cast “spells” for you to attract a partner, increase your income or restore your health. 

As much as you want to believe it, your psychic cannot reunite you with your lover by casting a spell. He or she cannot give you lottery numbers or make you rich in other ways. And he or she cannot restore your health. While there are powerful forms of remote healing that involve connecting energetically with qualified practitioners, this is not the same thing.

If a psychic offers to cast a spell for you (which generally includes exorbitant fees for “supplies”) chances are very good that you’re the victim of a well-traveled con-artist. Especially if your reasons for seeking out psychic advice in the first place is because you’re feeling desperate to recapture something (or someone) you’ve lost. Psychic scammers prey on desperation and have no trouble capitalizing on your misfortune.

• Make outrageous claims about abilities that no one — including your favorite psychic — possesses. 

There are numerous psychic scams that exploit a desperate client’s need to engage in Magical Thinking. While the whole concept of “psychic readings” is seen as a form of Magical Thinking to many, there’s a big difference between legitimate psychic ability and outright fraud.

For the record, your psychic does not have special powers. He or she cannot read someone’s mind. He or she cannot make someone behave a certain way or feel a certain emotion.  And he or she cannot interfere with your (or anyone else’s) free will. Although this may be disappointing at first, when you think about it it’s very good news.

You want to be on the lookout for certain claims that are made in some of the online psychic profiles. While some of these may actually be true, they don’t necessarily prove psychic ability (or accuracy). Claims such as “God gifted,” “Born with a Veil,” Fourth-Generation,” etc. Claims that are shrouded in mystery or esoteric mumbo jumbo. Degrees or certifications from institutions that don’t exist or that require nothing more than a fee for certification. And statements about “proven accuracy” usually followed by a high percentage.

• Contact you after your initial session to try to entice you into purchasing more services. 

This is especially dubious if it comes in the form of a written communication that could be sent to numerous people (which it often is). An email that says “I have important information for you,” or “please contact me right away, I have some news for you regarding your situation.”

The truth is, if your psychic reader was really that invested in helping you, he or she would tell you the important information or news right there in that initial email. This doesn’t mean your psychic doesn’t deserve to be paid. Of course s/he does. But taking the initiative to reach out and try to lure you back in with statements that are shrouded in mystery is questionable at best.

Touching base or checking in down the road and asking how you’re doing is not the same thing. A psychic who really cares about you and your situation will take this approach, not one that requires you to spend more money.

When you’re feeling anxious, depressed or worried about your future, you’re much more vulnerable to these ploys than you are when you’re feeling centered and thinking clearly. Some readers will take advantage of this, especially if you’re looking for reassurance from them that you’re not getting elsewhere. And while you can find many legitimate psychics — both in your community and online — there are just as many out there who are ready, willing and able to take advantage of you.

You can avoid falling victim to these ploys by not only educating yourself on what to avoid, but also by seeking out readers who are aligned with a more ethical world view. Those who seek to empower their clients rather than fostering dependency. Those who advocate for their achievements rather than scaring them into believing they won’t get what they want without their psychic’s special powers. And those who are genuinely interested in celebrating their successes rather than exploiting their fears.

 

How to Avoid Psychic Scams

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I am available for live phone, Skype or chat consultations in 30 and 60 minute increments at the rate of per minute for 30 minute and per minute for 60-minute sessions. I am also available for phone or chat through Click4Advisor at per minute.

Please note that I do not offer free readings and these are the lowest rates you will find me at online. I am located in the US, in the Eastern time zone.

Feel free to pop into my chatroom if you see me available live, or email me to schedule a session if you don’t. PayPal and Click4Advisor links are accessible through the sidebar on the right.

 

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Want to read more articles like this? Visit my website: Ask the Astrologers

You can also read more of my articles on Psychic Scoop.

I also highly recommend The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene’ Brown.