Edmonton police warn of pseudo-psychic scammers
The old black magic has victims in its spell, and Edmonton police say swindlers who pose as astrologers or psychic readers are to blame.
Police have received numerous complaints about such scams since April 2015, including one case where a family paid $85,000 to a phoney who later left the country.
"It is difficult to track these alleged fraudsters," Const. Harpreet Jhinjar said in a news release. "Often, these individuals are on a visitor's visa and quickly disappear when they believe they could be caught."
Some people seek help from astrologers or psychics to solve family or business problems, police said.
Victims of recent scams come from across Canada, including Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver.
Investigators say many clients have paid between $2,000 and $15,000 to such self-proclaimed fortune tellers, who advertised their services on posters put up around the city.
Jhinjar said Edmonton police and the Canadian Border Service Agency are working to remove the fraudsters from Canada, and to prevent them from coming back into the country.
"You do not have to feel embarrassed," Jhinjar said. "These fraudsters are experienced and have stolen money from a lot of people. If you have been scammed, it's important to report the incident to police immediately, so there is a higher chance of locating the suspects."
Police say signs of astrology and psychic fraud include:
- Unrealistic promises to solve personal and financial problems;
- Requests for small amounts of money up front for performing healing rituals;
- Plans that require thousands of dollars as offerings (for prayers, chain of rituals etc.);
- Claims to remove "black magic and/or witchcraft."
Local psychic Janice Dodds says people should be suspicious of anyone asking for too much money.
"Anything over $200, my alarm bells would go off," she said. "Why are they charging so much? It's ridiculous."
Anyone with information about this fraud is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
