The Fraudulent Psychic Medium uses Psychology 

The reason I am touching on this topic is so that if you are ever going to ask for a reading from ANYONE you will have solid guidance as to how to spot a fraud.

In all things test the source, do not allow yourself to be flattered and it's common sense not to go for a reading when feeling vulnerable ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’ so to speak.

A recommendation from a friend you trust is best as with any service needed, be it a tradesman or a medium!

How to spot a fraud / fake reading:

Most psychics will vary their techniques with each person. The techniques are often used spontaneous and can be varied in countless ways. In fact, some fraudulent psychics are adept enough to be able to combine many techniques and to keep you guessing as to how they are doing their reading. The bottom line for the fraudulent psychic is never to get caught!

OBSERVATIONS

Fraudulent readers look for clues by using their senses: touch, sight, and hearing. This is put to good use in the doctor’s surgery for our benefit.

Touch : The sense of touch is used most commonly by the palm reader. The reader uses the lines in the palm as a method for the stock remarks. As the reader "reads" the palm of the client, the "reader" is actually feeling small uncontrollable movements in the hand as the "reader" hits upon areas that are true. These small normally undetectable movements from the body are called "gives" in the card playing world. In minutes, a great palm reader will be able to detect areas of sensitivity of the client. By remembering the psychological profile the "reader" can also build up quite a "patter" about the client. The client believes that the palm reader is gifted.

Hearing: During a reading, the fraudulent psychic will hear small comments that a client may say. The reader will ignore these comments until a few minutes later when the reader will parrot back the exact words of the client. The client has by now forgotten that they have said anything and naturally attributes these "comments" to the psychic abilities of the reader.

Another thing that is a great indicator for ‘live’ readings [rather than postal or other types] is that the psychic will listen to the breathing patterns of the client. If a reader should hit upon an area of concern to the client, the client may change their breathing patterns, thus providing additional clues. Prolonged steady breathing of the client may indicate that the reader is way off base during their reading and that they had better start making some "hits" right away! Or the client may end the session.

Sight: Some readers use props or any distractions which serve as a focal point for the client while the reader watches the face for micro expressions. Combined with the stock remarks, touch, hearing, the reader can't help BUT hit upon something eventually! This is not to say that cards and other things don't have a valid use for the genuine medium.

The reader will also look for signs in the movement of the eyes. If the reader hits on something, the client may shift their eyes, narrow them, or even open the pupils of the eyes wider. This will help the reader to establish the facial patterns of the clients, thus making micro expressions more discernible. Micro expressions are difficult to fake (takes a lot of training) and this gives the reader an edge over the client.

Clothing is an indicator of the client. The choice of clothing can reveal how the client is feeling that day; it can also show their mental attitude, even small things about the way that they think.

Body posture is another clue. If a client walks with their head tilted downward and makes little eye contact, depression could be the cause. While there are many causes of depression, the big ones are the loss of a job, the loss of a close friend or relative, feeling inadequate, discouraged. Again, these issues are relationship oriented. Once a reader mentions a possible "relationship issue", people will automatically float their minds and agree with the reader.

The total stance of the person, the way that they hold their hands, move their head. If they are animated while they are talking, these are all additional clues that the live reader will use to fake a reading. The sad thing is that the client will not know if or when the fake is faking it!

And then….

Once a fraudulent reader may glean some "unknown" titbit of information about you, they may mix that information with some type of "stock information" to create with you the illusion that the statements are authentic. If the information is handled well, a mental illusion is created. Leaving the client with the impression that both this information and the reader are authentic. The successful fraudulent psychic is able to put this gleaned information into their remarks. This enables their success rate to go up which in turn increases their credibility. The danger is in the truth that nothing is stronger than telling somebody something intimate and personal-particularly when that piece of information relates to something that person has struggled with unsuccessfully, a relationship for instance. Then the person can be left open to long term counselling and even more manipulation by the reader.

During the "reading" a fraudulent psychic may vary their conversational tone to match the clients personality, this is called ‘mirroring’ or ‘body language reflection’. The reading may also mirrored in the tone of voice, or adapted to bully or flatter, and be delivered forcefully, lad back, aloof, whatever will suit the session. With some refinement and enough experience, the stock reading can be successfully tailored for a particular individual. Another way the fraud will get under your skin is through….

Eavesdropping : Before a session with a client, the fraudulent reader might over hear a conversation that the client may have with a friend. The reader could then take that information to the client and represent it as being from themselves. The client may often stand there dumb founded wondering how the reader could have known that!

Another way of "reading" a client is when the reader couches phrases and uses words like: "May" (not meaning the month of May), or "possible". By carefully wording their phrases, the reader can give the impression of having multiple meanings. For example: "you May find a job soon". The client could interpret the word "may" to be "will". Thus changing the statement altogether to become "You Will find a job".

The key to making this work is that the reader must give out some type of meaningful statement to the client in the context of specific information. Here is another way to be impressed…

CHARACTER SURVEYING.

Does your profile – are you fitting into any of these?

Choleric -the pull-'em-up-by-the-boot-strap-type; the president of a company or a sergeant in the army, aggressive, insensitive and hard to deter. Needs to work on self control.

Phlegmatic -This one's an accountant; calm, but slow and plodding; is detail oriented and probably needs to clean out those drawers and throw away those files from 15 years ago.

Melancholic -The gifted and talented art director who is moody and needs a bright and cheerful spouse, encouraging boss or they become mopey and insecure.

Sanguine -The spunky, gabby type who everyone sees as the host of the party; is often overweight, in sales.

During the reading the fraudulent has to spot at least one clue to the clients personality.

While no one person has all of the traits, most of us are a mixture of each personality type. The psychological profile does show the strengths and weaknesses of each personality type. Once a reader latches on a particular temperament they can continue to "read" merely using the personality type by using any common situation and telling you how you reacted. It can be very flattering for the ego to be seen by such a knowledgeable psychic.

Where large sums of money are at stake the professional will go to great lengths to impress! For example an advanced research might be in order for the very wealthy….

RESEARCH

The reader might have a person who works for them to go to the local newspaper and check for any articles about the client in the "morgue". The term "morgue" simply is the place where articles are kept on file in case that the paper might need additional information for "background" material for future stories. You would be surprised at the information that is often found there! Births, deaths, awards, employment announcements and news stories, are all great ways to know more about a client.

If a client looks as if they are very affluent, the reader can adjust the reading so that the reading will end shortly as the reader nears an important issue for the client. The reader then could hire someone to do additional investigations about the client on that subject matter. In some cities, the "readers" may actually share the results of their readings with other "readers". If the client should go to a different "reader", the client could be told the same information. Thus, reinforcing what the initial reader said during the initial reading. It is sad to say, but some well known psychics after their death kept detailed records (and extensive files) on the more affluent people loving in their area. All the while, the client never knowing the real skill of the "reader".

THE EDUCATED GUESS

Another method that some "readers" use to fake a reading is called the "Educated Guess". The next step on that is to use the information and just make an educated guess about the client. If the "reader" makes a "hit" the results can be outstanding for the client. The client will believe that here is the worlds best reader!

The "educated guess" is nothing more than making guesses about a client while observing their clothing, posture, hair style, etc. The educated guess is based more on the law of percentages than any thing else. If you ask many questions, the odds are that eventually you will hit on the right reaction of the client to that question. Once you recognize the hit, you can build upon that single hit to the point of where you can baffle the client.

NAME DROPPING

Some "readers" may ask you about a name. They may say something like "I sense that there is something about a name that starts with the letter 'R'". The client will think for a minute and may actually think of a name of a distant relative that starts with that letter. The client may also offer the name of the relative. The reader upon hearing the name will immediately know the sex of the person and possibly also sense the age of the person, old-fashioned names are obvious.

This in turn will allow the reader to access the client (by watching for micro expressions of the face or hands) for more material about the distant relative. All the while by merely offering educated guesses.

CONCLUSION

Not all fakes will know these principles, nor can any one master all of the methods. But occasionally, you might find yourself being "read" without your permission, which is MOST unethical.

Should a person walk up to you and offer some titbit about your life - often this is done to manipulate people more than anything else, and done to "prove" to a potential client that the "reader" has some sort of mystical "powers" over others. Now, when these people approach you, then back off a bit. Take a step backwards to allow you to better control the situation. Think about what method they are using, is it the observation of you every slightest movement they are picking up? Or is it the educated guess and name dropping method?

Ask yourself "Why is this person doing this? What do they gain?�? Have they researched you from a friend, ask that friend!

I know that the above applies basically to readings that are done face to face, but some of the same techniques can be used by those "readers" who are active on the Internet, look out !

Obviously the online reader will know nothing about your age, height, weight, body type - unless they ask you for these details and if they do ... RUN don't walk, in the opposite direction!

A New Use in the Legal System

Over the last 20 years or so, there has developed in the legal system in the United States a whole new field of employment. That of the consultant who assists in selecting a jury, these consultants study the micro expressions of the possible jurists to betray their actual thinking. The last thing that the jury consultant wants to do is to chose someone for the jury who has some feeling of ill will towards the defendant.

The jury consultant develops a series of questionnaires which when asked, the juror might lie about their feelings. When the juror lies about their feelings they will often move their mouth ever so slightly. This is an excellent indicator that the person is untruthful. The juror is not even aware of their moving their mouth in response to the question. The "reader" will watch for such movement to indicate either that the client is lying, or just that the client has a lack of interest.

What are we to do about the risk of being taken in with all this?

Common sense is the KEY. And I repeat...

In all things test the source, do not allow yourself to be flattered or go for a reading when feeling vulnerable ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’ so to speak. A recommendation from a friend you trust is best as with any service needed, be a plumber or other.

After all what is life if without adventure, we are all just learning as we go on... I too have been taken in by the clever con artist, but I learnt the difference pretty quick!

To learn more about what is a genuine psychic MEDIUM go to that section by clicking on 'Articles' or you could click  >> HERE<<

End.