“Psychic Sylvia Browne told Amanda Berry’s mother that Berry had died when the two appeared on a talk show shortly after Berry’s disappearance nearly 10 years ago. Since Berry and two other kidnapped girls were found alive at a house in Cleveland this week, Browne and her psychic readings are facing a backlash from disgusted critics.”
-USA Today
Sylvia Browne
In an interesting episode of “Criminal Minds,” (Cold Comfort, 4/14), the plot seems to lend credence to the supposition that psychics can assist law enforcement to resolve cases.
Stanley Usher, portrayed by Vondie Curtis-Hall
According to a recent article at Slate on the same topic, “Academics have repeatedly tested the abilities of psychics to provide any useful information in a crime investigation, and the results are damning.” The article is worth a read.
When my mother was alive, her twilight years were plagued by an onslaught of scam mail and phone solicitations that very nearly bankrupted her, and would have done so completely were it not for some very favorable and rare events that recovered the bulk of her funds. As a result, I spent a good bit of time putting together the Sweepstakes Fraud Factsheet. Most of this website has to do with the rampant scamming of elders and the gullible by selling sweepstakes entry aggregations under the false head of “You may have already won…”, one section describes the Psychic Connection.
If you find yourself on a “sucker list”, sweepstakes offerings are not the only things you will receive. The crooks think, “Ah! We’ve found someone stupid!” and you will receive some of the most bizarre solicitations you have ever seen. “Psychics” and “Clairvoyants” from all over will want to improve your luck, free you from curses, cast out evil spirits, teach you how to win contests, and much more.
Be smart! Avoid worthless solicitations of this nature like the plague! Never respond, or you’ll find yourself inundated with hundreds of similar offers.
Here is one of the most disgraceful examples of this kind of fraud.
As the Slate article mentions, “While not especially good at making predictions, psychics are typically quite skilled at self-promotion.” Science and good police work trump mumbo-jumbo every time.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Playing in the World Game 