Scams
Latest Scams
Over the past 18 months the public, spiritual magazines and members of the spiritual community have bought several scams to our attention. One of our stated aims is to help protect the public from those who are fraudulent. Unfortunately, those people who use our beliefs to con people bring us all into disrepute and make it more difficult for us to be taken seriously.
As a way to help us achieve our stated aims this webpage will be dedicated to highlighting the scams that come to our attention. We will also highlight instances of bad practice as well, but for this we need your help.
If you come across obvious scams or instances that you consider to be bad practise then please telephone Simon on 01656 865696 or Email info@spiritualworkersassociation.org.uk with the details.
We will be updating this page regularly so please check it out before contacting a spiritual service provider. Although, for obvious reasons, we cannot name people we will group scams into areas so it is easier for you to check.
Scam 1
We have been contacted about a young man who likes to join circles in spiritualist groups. These circles are often free and are training areas. Therefore they should be safe. However, this predator targets new and vulnerable circle sitters. He asks them about lost children on the other side and he tells them they have lost children even if they haven't by assuring them that he 'knows' they have. If they have lost children he proceeds to draw them during the circle saying, whilst others are present, that its free. He then targets them afterwards when they are on their own and charges £40/£50 for the drawing. In one case, a lady who had more than one child in spirit, paid over £400 for a handful of so-called free spiritual art of children who have passed.
Be careful… when you sit in circle you are training and the other members of the circle are also training. You should never have to pay for any reading, drawing, healing or anything else that is done within these training sessions. Most psychic artists do not charge much more than £30 for a drawing so do not be taken in by this scam. You would be better off going to a psychic Fayre where stall holders have to be covered by insurance before being allowed to trade. You can then make your own decision as to whether you want to have someone draw those who have passed for you. If you are not happy there is also someone that you can complain to.
Scam 2
A lady recently contacted us telling us she had gone to see a tarot reader with a family member for support. The tarot reader asked the family member to leave and she then proceeded to tell the young lady that she was cursed and was destined for bad luck. She asked her for £700 then sometime later said she would need a further £700 to travel to Israel to get a sacred bone or else the curse could not be lifted.. after the young lady had paid out £1400, the tarot lady tried to ask for £3000 more. At this point the aunt stepped in and contacted us and the trading standards.
Be warned….. This is a very common trick and vulnerable parties pay up, all too often, out of fear. In no circumstances whatsoever should you ever pay to have someone remove a curse. It is irrelevant whether curses are real or not. Furthermore you should always be allowed to have a family member present in a sitting be it Tarot or something else., Readings can vary greatly in price. Most average readings vary from between £10 to £50 depending on area, with the average being just £25 for up to an hour's reading.
Scam 3
A spiritual course was recently advertised at a certain location and the promotional material stated that the contents of the training course would be “ X,Y and Z”. When the people arrived, after paying a lot of money, the course had to be moved to a new more all together cheaper and more private location, and the training was not as advertised. In short it contained “A, B and C Instead”
You are entitled to receive what is stated on the advertising promotional material. As the saying goes - it should do what it says on the can. If it doesn’t then you are entitled to a refund, either in part thereof or full. Contact the party in the first instance and ask for a refund. If they refuse or will not communicate with you then contact your local trading standards office and explain to them. If they feel you have been wronged they will investigate.