Does this sounds like a scam?

[fangvain]

I was stopped by a woman with a baby on the street in soho the other day. She's a psychic and said she felt a strong vibration from my aura. I never believed in psychic, in fact, I'm a bit scared of them. I guess it's because I'm a Chinese buddhist and psychic power is foreign to me.

But I have been really depressed recently about my career, my relationship and life in general. I let her do a face reading right in front of a store in soho.

I would say 90% of the things she said about me was downright. She also said my aura is very dark and that there's too much negativity around me. I need an aura cleansing and I meant to be successful and be loved, etc. She said she could help me with the cleansing, for 9 days at $50. Of course, that was the first time I heard of "aura". I was skeptical. She said God brought us together and she could really help me heal. I took down her number and walked away. She also said never to discuss this reading with anyone because there's a lot of jealousy around me.

I couldn't sleep that night. I haven't slept well for a couple of days already. When I woke up the next morning, I felt I needed to see her and started this aura cleansing. I'm a very conversative person so it was a big decision for me.

I called her and I confirmed it's going to cost me $50. I thought that was really cheap. When I got to her place, it was an evacuated building in soho. I was a bit scared but I felt I must help myself and get rid of this darkness around my chest. After waiting for 15 mins downstairs, she finally buzzed me up.

I walked into this tiny room of an apartment on the 2nd floor. There's a closed door dividing the kitchen(where she sat me down) from the livingroom(I suppose it's a livingroom). The kitchen was very tiny and there's nothing on the counter. The room was full of cigarette smoke. I felt uncomfortable in the environment but I reminded myself- let's give it a try.

So she asked me how I was feeling and if I had dreams last night. I gave her $50, which she referred to as the donation to the crystal. She repeatedly asked me if I wanted to help myself get rid of this negativity and darkness. And she said the work she's doing is through God- in the name of god.

After a brief conversation, she said I was to say my name, date of birth and a prayer before I went to bed the every same evening. And I should come in to see her tomorrow.

So yesterday evening I went to her place again- second time. Again, I was asked to wait downstairs of this evacuated building for about 15 mins. I grew more skeptical and scared. But I went upstairs anyway. She asked me if I said my prayer before going to bed and how I felt after we met last night. She also asked me if I told anyone about the reading. I said no.

Then she explained to me she has been praying to the crystal and the crystal said my negativity is very very strong and in order to start the cleansing, I need 9 special candles from Israel. The candles are rare. When she mentioned the candles, I thought I had to look for such candles but then she said the temple she goes to has the candles and she was able to get them for me. They are $10 each so it's $90 in total. She sounded matter of fact. I wanted to make sure she meant I had to pay the $90 for the candles so I cut her off from proceeding to the instruction. She said yes but I said I don't have $90. She said "but god knows you're able to..you would feel the difference tonight after burning the candles..I will tell you what to do". She repeatedly asked me" do you want to help youself? Do you want to get rid of this darkness? " I said yes but ...... I don't have the money.

The whole time of the conversation, she kept saying ".....in the name of god". She had a way of street talking and she was forceful. I was really scared, pissed off and skeptical. I told her I have to think about it. She said " you have tried different ways in the past to make things work, but this cleansing will help you. "

She asked me when I would let her know if I would proceed on the cleansing, paying for the candles. I asked her if she would give up on me if I decided not to buy the candles. She said no, I would still pray for the crystal and tell you what I see.

I walked out of the building, feeling really upset and foolish. By the way, she told me again- Do not tell anyone about this reading.

Of course a part of me thinks that maybe she really has power but my intuition told me, to leave and she's a fraud.

Any thoughts?

[Dan.Linehan]

Yes -- totally scammy.

Only you can change your mind. Not candles.

[Dan.Linehan]

Wait, I misspoke. You will need to buy some special herbs before I can tell you in it's a scam or not.

[fangvain]

I think I was afraid it was only the second session and she asked me for $90. She will ask me to buy more stuff- crystal, herbs, etc. for the remaining 7 sessions.

[Dan.Linehan]

Yep, that's why it's nine days. Every day she will up the ante.

[seo1]

definitely sounds like a scam....

are you a hardcore skeptic dave?

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by fangvain

I was stopped by a woman with a baby on the street in soho the other day.

Sweetie, I kept picturing a character from the Beverly Hillbillies (google it). Consider the 50 bucks tuition for the school of life. Don't go up to that nasty place any more, OK?

Personally I'd report her to the cops, but then I'm a nasty old wretch myself. Pity the baby.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Wait, I misspoke. You will need to buy some special herbs before I can tell you in it's a scam or not.

LOL!

[eskimo]

She's using her spiritual powers for manipulation, control, and financial gain. If she was truly doing this in the name of God, it would be UN-conditional.

[wachusettgirl]

Listen to your own intuition, if you started a thread asking if this is a scam then you most likely already knew the answer...

[jokerman]

You would be doing a good service to report her. It might even help you build some positive momentum in your life, by taking a stance against corruption. Try to get your $50 back and feel richer for it, or maybe spend it on something you really want or need, rather than something you think you might want or need. Every dollar counts, so don't take this woman's theft lightly. She misrepresented herself and her fees, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get your money back.

[eruso]

That's just terrible.

[mahreenferdous]

I would report her if I were you. You'll help other people who could be falling into her little trap of abusing her skills.

[ar81]

I made astrological charts for years, to study how true or false it was.
Along the road I got to help many people, but I never made any money.
Helping people in exchange for money is not acting in the name of God.
It is merely profit.

When you have money and spirituality mixed you are likely to have a scam.
Money makes state of mind to go down, so spiritually there is no richness.

[Ninja]

I had an aura cleansing when I was a teen. The person did it for free and I have felt so much better since. Often, the 'real' healers will find you, and not on the street but through friends who have had good experiences

Charging a fee does not have to mean it's a scam, but be warned! When you meet someone who is really gifted (and has mastered said gift), you will know. I can't really explain it, but you will know. If the first thing you feel with this woman is anything but trust, warmth and security, you haven't found the real deal yet.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by ar81

I made astrological charts for years, to study how true or false it was.

How true are they?

[borisg]

Don't be turned off to psychics, shamans or witches by your experience..there are real ones, there are good ones, and there are bad ones and straight out frauds...just like everything else in life.

meditate...meditate...meditate....