The Hard Truth About Witchcraft Scammers

This is probably one of the least glamorous things I'll ever write about, but it might be one of the most important. There is a scam problem in the spiritual community. A big one. I wish I could tell you otherwise.

Unfortunately, every month I hear from people who have spent hundreds—or sometimes thousands—of dollars chasing promises that never should have been made in the first place. They aren't foolish people. They're people who were grieving, heartbroken, frightened, desperate for answers, or simply looking for hope. And that's exactly what scammers prey upon. The truth is, fear really has become a business model.

If someone can convince you that you're cursed, spiritually attacked, or surrounded by dark forces that only they can remove, they've already put themselves in a position of power. That's not guidance. That's manipulation. And if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it is that truly experienced practitioners rarely need to convince you of how powerful they are. Their work speaks for itself. The people who constantly tell you they're "the most powerful witch," "the strongest psychic you'll ever meet," or that they've never had a spell fail are often trying to sell confidence rather than demonstrate wisdom.

Real practitioners know that magic is nuanced. Human beings have free will. Life gets complicated. No ethical person can promise certainty in every situation.

Another tactic that makes me uneasy is the instant diagnosis of some terrifying spiritual problem. You book a reading hoping for clarity, and within five minutes you're told there's a dark entity attached to you, a generational curse on your family, or overwhelming negative energy that absolutely must be removed TODAY. Conveniently, they also happen to offer the very expensive service needed to fix it.

Could people have difficult spiritual experiences? Of course. But extraordinary claims deserve thoughtful consideration, not immediate panic. A trustworthy practitioner should explain what they're seeing, encourage questions, and never pressure you into making an expensive decision out of fear. If someone is trying to rush you, that's worth paying attention to.

Then there's the pricing. Now, let me be clear about something. Professional spell work takes time. It requires study, preparation, ritual tools, experience, and often many hours of focused effort. I believe practitioners deserve to be paid fairly for that work. But there's a difference between charging fairly for your time and experience and exploiting someone's vulnerability. If every conversation somehow ends with another emergency ritual, another spiritual cleansing, another hidden blockage that costs another several thousand dollars to remove, you should feel comfortable asking questions or walking away.

Fear should never be used as a sales technique.

Perhaps the biggest red flag of all is when someone tries to convince you that you're incapable of doing any magic for yourself. I've never believed that. In fact, if you've met me you know that that much is part of my personal philosophy.

Years ago, while working in a local witch shop, I regularly taught beginners how to perform simple workings themselves instead of paying me to do it. Why? Because magic should empower you. A good practitioner doesn't want lifelong dependence. They want informed clients. Sometimes you'll absolutely benefit from hiring someone with years of experience. That's why professionals exist in every field. But you should never be made to believe that lighting your own candle, saying your own prayer, creating your own protection ritual, or learning your own craft is somehow impossible without paying someone else. Because it isn't.

One of the questions I think everyone should ask before hiring a practitioner is this:

"Do I feel more empowered after talking with this person—or more afraid?"

That question alone can tell you a great deal.

The best teachers, readers, and spell casters I've met don't leave people feeling helpless.

They leave people feeling informed, supported, and respected. Even when delivering difficult news, they do it with compassion rather than intimidation.

If you ever feel pressured to make a decision immediately, if you're told disaster is guaranteed unless you pay today, or if someone seems more interested in frightening you than educating you, trust your instincts. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to seek a second opinion. And you are absolutely allowed to walk away. Magic has existed for thousands of years because it has always been about humanity's relationship with the sacred, with nature, with spirit, and with ourselves. It should never become a tool for fear.

A good practitioner won't ask you to surrender your power.

They'll help you remember that you have it.