Fake psychics manipulate people by making false claims about their psychic abilities and preying on vulnerable individuals. They offer false hope or play on people's fears and emotions, using tactics like cold reading or hot reading to create the illusion of psychic ability. Their main strategy is to convince people that they possess unique insights or abilities, leading them to spend significant amounts of money on readings or services. To avoid being manipulated and taken advantage of, it's important to be cautious of anyone claiming to have psychic abilities and to thoroughly research any psychic before engaging their services. If you have a unique story you'd like to share on the podcast, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/ZiHgdoK4PLRAddiB9 00:00 Upbringing in Russian-American household 02:30 Divorce & rebellion 06:45 Moving in with a friend to escape home life 10:10 Living situation gets uncomfortable (SA mentioned) 14:50 Meeting her boyfriend, falling in love 20:30 Boyfriend gets in an accident 23:20 Boyfriend passes away 24:20 Psychic calls her 28:30 Signs & red flags 31:36 Vulnerability, going to online school to avoid memories 33:30 Losing trust in the psychic 36:38 Psychic on probation 38:36 Psychic starts asking for help & money 43:00 Getting psychic a job 44:13 Psychic takes her car 48:15 Cutting ties 51:45 Psychic cusses her out, she quits 53:30 Starts asking for drugs 54:00 Scamming/manipulating made psychic feel cool 56:00 Psychic reaches out again 59:25 Trying to rekindle with boyfriend’s family 1:01:10 Numb to condolences, thoughts on grief and death 1:05:00 Concluding thoughts