The paranormal world is filled with good, trusting people who are looking for answers. Unfortunately, a few con artists are happy to provide those answers… for a price.
Let’s talk about con artists in general, and what to look for in the paranormal field.
Paranormal Con Artists
Con artists are inventive. They see an opportunity, and they reinvent themselves to make the most of it.
Few of them are “early adopters.” That is, if the con artist spots a new market to be fleeced, he (or she) waits to be sure that it’s a long-lasting market… or that it will at least be worth his while to construct the con.
Google Trends may indicate that the public’s interest in ghosts has been on the decline since late in 2004, but the paranormal field remains strong… and vulnerable.
There are many people who are new to ghost hunting, and they don’t really know what they’re doing. As long as they don’t pretend to be authorities, and don’t charge money or do anything dangerous, I’m reluctant to call them “con artists.”
However, others are pretending to be paranormal experts. Their goal may be fame or fortune (or both), and people should be on the alert if they suspect a scam… or even if they don’t.
Fake and inexperienced demonologists
Whether they’re con artists or not, when someone gets involved with a case involving demons, a dangerous door has been opened.
John Zaffis is one of many demonologists who has experience with the very dark and scary entities called demons.
If you might be dealing with a demon, please take no chances. Find someone with an established reputation and a proven track record in the field. That means years of volunteer work, and a solid understanding of spiritual matters.
Mediums who ask leading questions
If you consult a medium — or any psychic — watch for leading questions. For example, “Did someone in your family have the initial J?” leads the client to mention a given name such as John, James or Jane. In the 1990 U.S. census, John and James were the two most common men’s names.
That same question could lead to the surname, Johnson. It’s the second most common surname in America, according to the 1990 census.
Another safe guess is, “Is there a name like William or Williams, close to you?” William is fifth most popular given name in America, and Williams is the third most common surname.
Here’s another trick by fake mediums: They’ll ask you just the first three numbers of your Social Security number, saying that they need a number you’ve used for a long time, to “get a better sense of your energy.” Then, they’ll “see” a particular state that you’ve lived in.
Well, the first three numbers of your Social Security number indicate the state in which the number was issued. There’s nothing psychic about that.
Are you cursed?
A favorite ploy among fakes is to claim that the client is cursed, and it will take considerable work (prayer, candles, magick, rituals, etc.) to remove the curse. If you don’t pay for this, your bad luck will not only continue, it will get worse and worse.
If you think you’re genuinely cursed, see a religious professional such as a priest, minister, rabbi, or witch who won’t charge you a ridiculous fee to “remove” the curse.
Fake psychics and paranormal investigators
A person doesn’t have to be a good researcher to come up with enough history to bluff his (or her) way through a “psychic” investigation.
It’s even worse when the so-called psychic pretends to come up with information, and the audience is impressed.
Where this falls apart is when the performer gets the name wrong, or tells a story that happened at another (well-known) location. Then, the truth is obvious. If the person had any genuine psychic skills, it can take a long time to rebuild credibility.
Fake haunted houses
It’s smart marketing if a business can claim a ghost. “Haunted” hotels, restaurants and other attractions can appeal to more tourists. Frequently, an attraction opens as a mainstream business during the daytime, then offers special “ghost watches” or “ghost tours” after dark.
One clever haunted B&B fastened a pager to the frame of a bed in the house’s most haunted wing. During the night, the guest in the bed was woken several times, but could find no explanation beyond a sense of uneasiness and expectation or dread.
After awhile, he got up and closely examined the bed. The pager had been set to vibrate the bed whenever someone at the B&B called it. It was a subtle trick, but an effective one.
Good fun… or a crime?
Thanks to TV shows and the income from paranormal conferences and events, the line between entertainment and research has blurred in some areas.
When something is clearly presented as entertainment — such as a TV show or a performance — people should not be surprised when some or all of the show has been contrived.
However, when people are led to believe that the experience is genuine, and money is involved, that’s a scam.
For some, it’s even worse when someone’s faith in genuine research is shaken, or when they begin to doubt their own spirituality.
