How to Spot a Scam Reader

Scammers - it’s a big issue online, and in the last year it’s hit the new age/witchy community hard. On Instagram, Facebook, TikTok etc scammers have been copying legitimate tarot readers, Reiki practitioners, astrologers etc accounts and then spamming their followers, trying to trick them into giving them money in return for a reading or energy working that never materializes. Of course this is terrible for the person who was scammed out of their hard earned money. And it’s terrible for the real reader themselves who now appears to be a fraud. It also hurts the community at large, as clients can lose faith, not knowing who to trust online. So how do you spot a scam? Below are some red flags to watch out for. 

1. Their user name is almost like the real tarot reader, but not quite. Scammers will often copy the real readers profile picture and try to make their scam account look like the real persons. One way is to make it very close to the actual person’s user name. They will add a space or dash, or omit one letter, or add a number to the end. Sometimes they will even claim they are a “backup account” of the real person. This is usually a telltale that it’s a copy. If someone claims this, message the actual person to find out if it’s a backup or not. I had someone do this to me, and thankfully a follower alerted me to it. 

2. The user profile was just recently created and only includes recent photos.

Scam accounts will often copy the profile photo and the last 10 or so photos or videos from the original person to try to make it look like it’s them. I had this happen to me, and it is very weird to have someone pretend to be you. When looking at a profile and home page a tell usually is if it was just created and doesn’t contain a long history of content. Of course we all are new at some point, but beware if an account was just created this week and the person claims to have a lot of experience. 

3. They have no website, shop or other socials. 

Most legitimate readers or energy practitioners will have a link in their profile to their website, or Etsy or Shopify shop, and they will have links to their other social media profiles so you can see they are who they say they are and that they have a legitimate platform for their business. If a profile doesn’t have any of this, they most likely are a scammer. 

4. They slide into your DMs.

I wish I could shout this one from the rooftops - No legitimate reader will ever direct message you saying they have to do a reading for you! The scammers will often DM the legitimate reader’s followers telling them something like they “have a special message for you” or “I just know you need this reading”. No legitimate practitioner would ever do this. Some have even gone into the legitimate persons comments on platforms like YouTube, and replied to comments pretending to be the real person. The nerve of some people is astounding. Again if someone messages you saying they just have to do a reading for you - they are a scammer. 

5. They use high pressure and emotionally charged language. 

The scammer will often try to pressure the potential victim by claiming they have a message from a dead relative or that they know something bad is about to happen to them. Others will offer a free reading but them tell the person that they are cursed and have more info and/or they can fix it if the person will pay them a sum of money. This is a big red flag! Again no legitimate tarot reader, astrologer etc would ever do this. If someone tells you you are cursed, or that they just have to get a message to you from your dead grandfather, run far far away from that person. They are a scammer. 

6. They want you to pay them in an unusual way. 

Professional legitimate readers will have a website, Etsy shop or Shopify etc that you can purchase a reading through. It will be through a platform you recognize and can get a receipt from. Often scammers will ask that you transfer money to an account or pay them directly to a PayPal not connected to any shop or website. Some ask that you mark the PayPal as “family and friends” saying some story like they are trying to save money or their website is down etc. The problem with marking “family and friends” is that once the transfer is made there is no way to complain to PayPal and get your money back. And the scammer runs off with your money. 

7. There is no way to review the reader. 

A legitimate reader will have reviews, whether on their website or the platform they use like Etsy. This way you can leave feedback and see the reviews others have left. If the person doesn’t have this (and they probably don’t without a proper platform) it is likely a scammer. 

8. No one you know has heard of them.

The tarot and astrology communities are relatively small. Chances are if someone is legitimate, someone else in the community has heard of them. If you’ve never heard of them and no one else has, they could just be new, but they might be a scammer. If you are in the market for a reading ask people for recommendations and you are less likely to fall prey to a scammer. 

What to do if you spot a scam account

1. If you know who the actual reader is message them and let them know. Trust me, we appreciate it. 

2. Report the account as impersonating someone. Most platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow you to report these copycat accounts. The more people that report it the better.

3. Don’t engage them. If they slide into your messages offering to de-curse you or to give you that message from your dead aunt, just delete it. 

4.Block them. You don’t want them spamming your followers and friends too. 

The United States Pluto Return

On February 22, 2022, Pluto, the planet of death, transformation and power will return to the exact point it was when the Declaration of Independence was signed back in 1776. This is what is meant by a “return”, which will be exact on this date.

You may of heard of a Saturn return that happens to individuals, every 28 years or so, but none of us live long enough to see a Pluto return in our lifetime, as Pluto takes 248 years to return to the point of our birth. Nations and empires however can last long enough to see this. So what does this mean for the United States? 

It’s important to note that while the exact return is on Feb.22, 2022, the transits of slower moving planets, like Pluto, tend to last over a longer term. So there may not be any dramatic events on this day itself.. Although I would take note of events taking place in the US on or around this date as they could signify trends of long term importance. 

The exact degree of the Pluto return is 27 Capricorn, and with an orb of 3 degrees on either side, the return can be seen to be in effect from 2020 - 2024. This year with the exact return, will probably be the most dramatic and important. Below are some possible themes. 

1. Political Power Struggles 

Pluto is about power and how we wield it, for good or ill. When Rome experienced it’s first Pluto return in 216-223 CE it saw military coups, short lived reigns of emperors, and political instability. The unpopular Severus dynasty was rife with scandals and corruption. They were so unpopular it led to a couple of the emperors assassinations by the military. The second Pluto return of the Roman Empire 461 - 468 signalled the end of an era as threats from outside its borders and a weakening from within led to its downfall. While we may not see this level of violence, the widespread polarization of American politics and mistrust on either side is a continuing theme for the US. The struggle for power on either side can lead to disruptions and imbalance and even separation.. 

2. Religious violence

One way power is exerted is through subconscious beliefs like religious ones. Pluto represents the subconscious and as we know religious beliefs can exert a powerful force on people. One country we can look to for clues with this, is England. The British empire’s second Pluto return 1555 - 1562 saw the rise of Queen Mary (also known a Bloody Mary), who persecuted Protestants leading to the execution of many, thus her fearsome nick name. After her death Queen Elizabeth l rose to power and went after Catholic loyalists like the famous Mary Queen of Scotts. One only has to observe the culture clash between the evangelical minority in the US and the majority secular population, to see this theme repeat itself. 

3. Environmental Issues

Pluto is the god of death, and at the writing of this blog,  the US is approaching one million deaths from Covid. During the first Pluto return for the British empire 1313 - 1315  the was the Great Famine which lead to increased deaths, illness and social upheaval. While Covid is an obvious parallel, the climate crises with the increase of extreme storms, fires and floods echoes this theme of natural disasters causing death and disaster.

4. Technological Breakthrough 

It’s not all doom and gloom. Pluto ends things, but he sweeps out the old to make way for the new. After the second Pluto return for England, a golden era in exploration, art and economics occurred. The Elizabethan era is considered at time when the Britain flourished. The third Pluto return of 1801-1810 saw the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution and the solidification of the United Kingdom. While Pluto returns can be a time of uncertainty, they can also lead to a renaissance. 

5. Social Justice

Pluto is a god of the darkness, the hidden and the marginalized. As such he can stand for those who have been pushed aside and denied access to power. During the Pluto return of 1801 - 1810 of England, the slave trade was abolished, leading to changes in other countries, including the United States, and a growing social awareness through the western world in the 19th century. These struggles are echoed today in the Black Lives Matter movement and other marginalized groups demanding Justice long overdue. 

In short, a Pluto return can sound scary, but it is part of the life cycle of empires. It is how we handle power and what we decide to do with it collectively that is ultimately up to us. Do we use it to squash others, to polarize and to divide? Or do we use this as an opportunity to address the injustices, and make a new start that is better for everyone.