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.