Clairvoyant Scams: 5 ways to avoid them
Our Scambusters, Louise Baxter-Scott from the National Trading Standards Scams Team, and James Walker from Rightly, show you how to take control, how to spot a scam and what to do about it.
Louise Baxter-Scott and James Walker
This time we’re looking at the rise in Clairvoyant scams. At the start of a new year, when many of us want to take a look at what’s in store for the year ahead, it’s even more important to be aware of the type of activity fraudsters can use to trick unwary individuals. However, these scams do take place throughout the year, so follow the advice below to keep yourself safe.
Scam of the month: Clairvoyant Cons. Who predicted that?
Scammers posing as clairvoyants and psychics are out there every day, tricking vulnerable and often lonely individuals into paying for some fantasy good luck or to avoid something bad. Make sure you see it coming.
What are clairvoyant scams?
Clairvoyant scams are fraudulent activities involving the exploitation of people’s beliefs in psychic abilities or paranormal phenomena. They are psychological, feeding on insecurities. These scams are typically carried out by individuals who claim to possess special powers that allow them to see into the future, communicate with spirits, or provide insight into personal matters.
The scam usually begins with a clairvoyant making a claim that they’ve received a vision or message about the victim’s future. They may offer to provide detailed information about the victim’s life, relationships, or career, and may even offer to perform a psychic reading or a ritual to help the victim overcome a problem or achieve success.
But, these clairvoyants are often fraudsters who use a variety of tactics to deceive their victims. They may use cold reading techniques to gather information about the victim, more of which below, or use vague statements and leading questions to make it appear as if they have supernatural knowledge.
In some cases, the clairvoyant scammer may ask the victim for money or other valuables to help perform a ritual or remove a curse. They may also ask for personal information, such as a social security number or credit card details, which can be used for identity theft or other fraudulent activities.
Overall, clairvoyant scams are designed to prey on people’s vulnerabilities and exploit their beliefs in supernatural powers. It’s important to be sceptical of any claims of clairvoyance or psychic ability, and to do research before engaging with any individual who claims to possess such powers.
How do clairvoyant scams trick people?
Psychic and clairvoyant scammers approach people by post, email, telephone or even face-to-face. Letters can be four, five pages long as the scammer attempts to worm their way into the psyche of their target. The scammer can seemingly predict a positive upcoming event or claim that you are in some sort of trouble, offering you a solution.
The answer to your anxieties could be receiving winning lottery numbers, or a lucky charm, or even the removal of a curse that has befallen you. The scammer tells their victim that they’ll help you in return for a fee. And to cap it all, if you refuse to pay, some scammers then threaten to invoke a curse or bad luck charm on you.
Scammers may try and talk you into buying a lucky charm or secret of wealth, and once you’ve handed over your cash, you get sent something of no value or nothing at all. Alternatively, the scammer may warn you of a made up future event and then make promises to protect you from the outcome in return for ongoing payments.
There are examples out there where scammers use pictures of trustworthy, well known public figures such as actors or TV personalities to be “the face” of these scams. Just because you see someone you recognise, don’t be fooled.
Clairvoyant scams can also lead to your name, contact details and other personal information being included in a “victim list” which will result in you being targeted by further scams.
Tricks used by clairvoyant scammers
Clairvoyant scams can use a variety of tactics to trick people into handing over money, but some common methods include:
- Cold readings: Scammers may use a technique called “cold reading,” where they make general statements that could apply to anyone and then use the person’s reactions to provide more specific information. This can make it seem like the clairvoyant has special insights, when in reality they are just using basic psychological fairground tricks.
- Fear-mongering: Some clairvoyant scams play on people’s fears and anxieties by telling them they’re in danger or that something bad will happen if they don’t take action. They may then offer to perform a special ritual or sell a talisman to protect the person.
- Pressure tactics: Scammers may pressure people into paying for additional services or making impulsive decisions by using high-pressure tactics such as threatening or intimidating language.
- Personal information: Scammers may ask for personal information such as a person’s full name, date of birth, or credit card information under the guise of needing it for a reading. They can then use this information for identity theft or other fraudulent purposes.
- “Curses”: Some scammers may claim that a person has been cursed or has negative energy surrounding them, and offer to remove the curse for a fee. This is a common tactic to scare people into paying for unnecessary services.
It’s important to remember that honest clairvoyants will not use these tactics to trick people into handing over money. If you are ever in doubt about a clairvoyant or feel uncomfortable with their approach, trust your instincts and seek guidance from someone you trust.
5 ways to avoid clairvoyant scams
Pic: Shutterstock
Clairvoyant scams can be difficult to avoid, as they often involve convincing and manipulative tactics. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling victim to these scams.
- Be sceptical: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clairvoyants who promise to solve all of your problems or make unrealistic predictions.
- Do your research: Before working with a clairvoyant, research their background and reputation. Look for reviews and feedback from past clients to get an idea of their level of skill and trustworthiness.
- Be cautious of free readings: Many clairvoyants offer free readings to lure people in, but these can be a tactic to get your personal information or pressure you into paying for additional services.
- Avoid giving personal information: Be wary of clairvoyants who ask for personal information such as your full name, address, or social security number. This information can be used for identity theft or other fraudulent purposes.
- Don’t make impulsive decisions: Take the time to think through any decisions before agreeing to work with a clairvoyant or paying for their services. Don’t feel pressured to make a decision right away, and don’t be afraid to say no if you don’t feel comfortable.
Remember that honest clairvoyants won’t pressure you into making decisions or providing personal information, and they will not make unrealistic promises. If you have any doubts about a clairvoyant, it’s best to keep on the side of caution and seek guidance from a trusted source.
Protect your data
People get targeted by scammers posing as psychics or clairvoyants usually because they have some part of your personal data, which they probably got from a data breach where hackers stole your personal information from a legitimate company.
The best way to avoid this is to make sure your data only sits with companies that really need it. You can get your data deleted from any company that no longer needs it by using our Rightly Protect service. It’s quick, simple and free and will tell you just who has your data and give you the chance to instruct them to completely erase it if that’s what you want to do.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
Remember: If you have received a text you think is a scam then you can forward to 7726 or take a screenshot and send it to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you are receiving lots of unwanted phone calls or text messages you can also consider removing your details from data brokers, ensuring that you use a right to object to processing of your data. You can learn more about this on www.right.ly to stop the sharing of your data exposing you to scams. And you can take a free training course on how to fight against scams on www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk. The more we talk about scams the more we take away the shame.
Other recent scams include WFH Scams, and HMRC Scams – we explain how to keep yourself safe.
