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How to Spot a Fake Psychic or Medium 2024: Avoid Scams

How to Spot a Fake Psychic or Medium 2024: Avoid Scams

Finding a genuine psychic who truly has your best interests at heart can be difficult. Falling into the hands of a fraud not only wastes your money but can also leave you feeling confused and disheartened. The good news is that recognizing a fake psychic can become much easier when you know what to watch for.

To make the process smoother, I’ve put together a detailed guide to help you spot fake psychics or mediums, ensuring you avoid being scammed or misled. By learning these key signs, you can protect yourself from disappointment and stay focused on finding the real guidance you’re seeking.

I’ve also created a shortlist of the top platforms with trustworthy psychics, and California Psychics stands out as my number one recommendation. What sets this site apart is its rigorous screening process for all its psychics, ensuring you won’t have to worry about encountering fraud. Plus, their satisfaction guarantee means you’re protected if your session doesn’t meet your expectations.

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10 Ways to Spot Fake Psychics and Mediums

1. Negative Client Reviews

Identifying a fraudulent psychic can be made easier by assessing their client reviews. Consistent negative feedback and dissatisfaction are indicative of potential issues. Reviews highlighting unethical behavior, dishonesty, or misleading promises are particularly alarming.

However, keep in mind that not all negative reviews are a cause for concern, as they might come from clients with unrealistic expectations. This could be a person who complains about a psychic not being able to help them succeed in their love life or about a forecast that didn’t materialize. Additionally, a handful of negative reviews typically suggest that the website is transparent.

2. Questionable Platforms

It’s consistently best to be wary of unfamiliar or new psychic platforms. Some websites might not enforce rigid protocols for evaluating their psychics, thus making it simpler for fraudulent psychics to function. This is the reason why I often check what a psychic platform’s evaluation procedures are like. A more rigorous evaluation generally leads to a superior quality of psychics and mediums.

Explore the background and expertise of a platform before using it. Read reviews, examine terms and conditions, and assess satisfaction guarantees to determine the platform’s reliability.

For instance, negative reviews or complaints shared by past customers about payment or the competence of advisors on a platform should raise concerns. Furthermore, not having a satisfaction guarantee in place could potentially result in financial loss if you happen to receive a low-quality reading.

3. Vague Readings

A fraudulent psychic typically provides ambiguous or general readings that could be relevant to anyone. For instance, they might state something such as “I feel that you’ve experienced some challenges in your history that have impacted you”. This is a popular method employed by fraudulent psychics to create an illusion of supplying precise information when they are not.

On the other hand, a real psychic on a site like California Psychics will provide clear information that’s unique to you. By using their innate psychic abilities or tools like tarot cards, they can tap into your energy and provide personal insights.

A psychic may ask for certain information, such as your name, date of birth, or some background information. This provides them with more context for when they read your energy, which helps them provide a more accurate reading and advise you accordingly.

4. Poorly Written Profiles

A well-written and informative profile is a hallmark of a real psychic. If the psychic’s profile has poor grammar, spelling mistakes or lacks information, it’s a sign that they’re not serious about their work. I’ve also encountered frauds who use flashy language or make exaggerated claims about their abilities to try and lure in unsuspecting clients.

Legitimate psychics prefer to focus on their abilities and experience rather than making grand claims. Since they genuinely want to help you, they use their profiles to provide helpful information that enables you to make an informed decision.

5. Personal Information Requests

A genuine psychic or medium will never ask for any personal information. This includes your social security number, account details, or passwords. If they ask for any of this information, it’s a definite sign that they’re trying to scam you. So, always block and report the psychic immediately in this instance.

Always remember that a real psychic will only ask for basic information, such as your name and date of birth, before conducting a reading. Other info they may ask for would be some background information about your situation or the questions you have. If you aren’t sure if this information is legitimate, confirm it with the psychic platform.

6. Scare Tactics

Scammers and frauds commonly use fear tactics to create a sense of urgency or fear to trick you into making a wrong decision. For example, they falsely claim that someone has placed a curse on you or you have limited time to act. Another tactic is where they try to convince vulnerable people that only they can keep them safe, which is a setup for a long con.

In contrast, a psychic who’s sincere about helping you won’t try and scare or overwhelm you. They will instead take the time to reassure and guide you through your issues. While they all have different approaches, a legitimate advisor will never attempt to take advantage of your emotional state.

7. They Try to Extort Money

If your psychic demands extra money by offering to remove a curse or negative energy around you, it’s a clear sign they’re up to something. They’ll usually claim that this negative energy comes from an ancestor who committed a bad deed. This is a scam because genuine psychics don’t make other people’s actions the subject of your reading.

Other psychics may try and extort money by asking that you pay them directly, which is a major warning sign. Reputable platforms like California Psychics will process payments for you automatically, ensuring that you and your psychic can focus on getting the most out of your session.

8. Definite Answers

Always remember that there are no certainties regarding psychic readings, only possibilities. Fraudulent psychics often claim they can guarantee an outcome or result. Don’t fall for these claims as they’re not genuine, meaning you’ll only feel disappointed and angry.

Instead, look for a psychic who guides you through their intuition and experience. This allows them to shine a light on the path forward and advise you on how you can manifest a desired outcome.

9. External Connection Requests

Another warning sign to look out for is when your psychic wants to connect with you outside the platform. This is usually an attempt to trick you into purchasing their personal services or revealing your personal information, such as your phone number or account details.

In other cases, the psychic may try and use this as an opportunity to take advantage of your vulnerability, i.e., demanding money. Connecting with a psychic outside the platform also means you can’t get a refund if you get cheated or receive a bad reading. This is because a satisfaction guarantee won’t cover you.

10. Rude Behavior

A trustworthy psychic will always treat their clients with respect and compassion. If a psychic is rude or dismissive, then it demonstrates a lack of professionalism. Should the psychic use negative language or try to belittle your concerns, terminate the session immediately and report them to the platform.

A legitimate psychic reader works by getting a feel for you and adjusting their manner of delivery accordingly. Depending on the subject, a psychic may be reassuring, compassionate, firm, and direct. The psychic’s profile often contains information on their style and mannerisms.

Then, you can use this information to connect with a psychic or medium who resonates well with you. Forming a strong connection with your advisor helps them get a better feel for you. And this allows them to provide you with advice relevant to your situation.

3 Best Sites for Real Psychics and Mediums

1. Purple Garden — Consult with Real Psychics via Video

Trusted
purplegarden.co
Astrology
Astrology
Career Reading
Career Reading
Dreams
Dreams
Life Questions
Life Questions
Love Reading
Love Reading
Past Life
Past Life
  • Proven track record — more than 20 years of experience
  • Top psychics are endorsed by the site
  • Thorough psychic screening process
  • Informative psychic profiles
  • Detailed FAQs

Purple Garden is one of the industry’s oldest psychic reading websites, having been operating for 20 years. I also saw that there had been no significant incidents or complaints related to the legitimacy or quality of its psychics. This means you’ll be able to reach out to a top-rated advisor without any issues.

It’s also good to see that Purple Garden continually monitors the performance of its psychics. Top-rated advisors with a good track record are endorsed by the site and receive special badges that help them stand out. This system helps me identify accurate psychics who are great with clients and authentic.

The platform’s psychic screening policy is another feature that makes Purple Garden trustworthy. I contacted the platform’s customer service team, and they assured me that all advisors must submit their resumes and sit for a video test reading. These measures show me that it has put in the effort to filter out potential fake psychics.

Although Purple Garden has no satisfaction guarantee, the site ensures its psychic profiles are detailed and transparent. All advisor bios include detailed information about their skills and experience. You can also view previous clients’ positive and negative reviews, which helps you gauge the quality of an expert.

2. Keen — Connect with Talented, Handpicked Psychics

Trusted
keen.com
Astrology
Astrology
Aura Reading
Aura Reading
Chakra Balancing
Chakra Balancing
Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball
Love Reading
Love Reading
Numerology
Numerology
  • Transparent review system
  • Stringent screening process
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • 15+ years of experience providing psychic readings
  • Handy psychic matching tool

Keen has a transparent review and ratings system for its psychics. This means you can see all reviews left by previous clients — both positive and negative. I like this approach because it gives me a clear idea of a psychic’s past performance and helps me decide whether a psychic would be a good fit.

Additionally, Keen maintains the quality of its psychics through its detailed psychic selection process. To be accepted by the site, potential applicants must pass a background check, identity verification, and content quality review. These measures are an excellent way to screen out any fake psychics looking to take advantage of you.

Another benefit of using Keen is its 100% satisfaction guarantee. With it, you don’t have to worry about losing money on a bad reading. If you do end up having issues with your psychic, you have 72 hours to submit a refund request. But remember that you can only request one refund once every 30 days.

You should keep in mind, though, that there may be delays in getting a reply from Keen’s customer service team. Fortunately, the site has a comprehensive FAQ section with plenty of helpful information you can refer to. This means that general help is never far away.

FAQs on Spotting Fake Psychics

What happens if I’ve consulted with a fraudulent psychic advisor?

Several undesired outcomes can occur after consulting a fraudulent psychic advisor. A potential issue is receiving inaccurate or vague information, as a deceitful psychic may provide generic statements that could apply to anyone rather than specific insights related to your situation.

Another concern is financial loss, as scam artists may charge exorbitant fees or pressure you into purchasing additional services or items. Lastly, dealing with a fraudulent psychic can leave you confused, disappointed, and emotionally harmed, particularly if they manipulate your emotions or exploit your vulnerability.

To avoid such situations, it’s essential to do thorough research before consulting a psychic. Look for recommendations, read reviews, and choose a psychic from a reputable platform. Additionally, trust your intuition and be cautious of advisors who seem overly focused on money or pressure you into making decisions or purchases.

Can I trust online psychic readings?

It depends on the website that provides your psychic reading. This is why it’s important that you only consult with an advisor from a trusted platform. The main sign of a trustworthy platform is a screening process, where the site conducts background checks, skill assessments, and video interviews to determine the skill level of its psychic applicants.

You should also see whether the site has a detailed review section. That way, you get to learn more about an advisor’s past performance and their strengths and weaknesses. But most importantly, it ensures that you don’t connect with an advisor who is a scammer or untrustworthy.

How do psychic readings work?

Psychic readings involve an intuitive or psychic advisor using their abilities to tap into your energy and provide personal guidance. They may use various tools and techniques, such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, tarot cards, or star charts to guide you.

Your advisor may ask for some basic information during your psychic reading, such as your name, birth date, and context into what’s bothering you. This gives them the necessary information for more detailed readings and helps them give you relevant advice.

From experience, I’ve found that it’s better to connect with advisors who are featured on proven psychic reading sites. These experts tend to be more genuine and have the skills and experience to guide you. This allows them to delve deeper into your issues and provide you with more relevant psychic insight.

Bottom Line

Finding a trustworthy psychic online can be a difficult task. With so many fraudulent psychics around, connecting with someone you can trust is becoming increasingly difficult. After all, reaching out to the wrong psychic can cost you time and money.

To make things easier for you, I’ve outlined the 10 ways to identify a fake psychic or medium and shortlisted the most trustworthy psychic platforms. California Psychics is the safest choice, thanks to its strict screening process and dedication to providing authentic psychic advisors.

We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links. Advertising Disclosure
MysticMag contains reviews that were written by our experts and follow the strict reviewing standards, including ethical standards, that we have adopted. Such standards require that each review will take into consideration independent, honest and professional examination of the reviewer. That being said, we may earn a commission when a user completes an action using our links, at no additional cost to them. On listicle pages, we rank vendors based on a system that prioritizes the reviewer’s examination of each service but also considers feedback received from our readers and our commercial agreements with providers.This site may not review all available service providers, and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
About the author
Writer
Benjamin Lee (Ben for short) is a writer for MysticMag.

He’s been writing articles about wellness and spirituality for more than 10 years. In fact, Ben often turns to his interest in Southeast paranormal practices and fascination with spirituality for inspiration when writing. This allows him to offer a unique and practical perspective to his work with MysticMag.

Besides spirituality, Ben is also a major fitness enthusiast, and at times, he even combines both of these interests. For example, he strongly believes that physical exercise can be a form of meditation which allows the mind to reach a higher plane.

When he’s not working or exercising, Ben can be found reading true crime, mystery, and horror novels, or working on his own novel. His love for mystics has also encouraged him to learn more about psychic practices around the world such as shamanism, Wicca, and Southeast Asian animalism.