Fake Psychic Accounts in Australia: How Impersonators Used Social Media to Target Fans
In 2023, Australia’s ABC reported cases in which social-media accounts impersonated psychic practitioners and offered followers fraudulent consultations. A public figure’s photo and name can be copied; a fake account can then message fans and urge them to pay or share personal information. For users, the first question is not whether a reading sounds accurate. It is who is actually on the other side of the screen.
Impersonation exploits shortcuts to trust: a familiar profile picture, a similar username and a personal-sounding message such as “I saw your comment.” The convenience of online services also gives fake accounts quick access to people interested in spiritual content.
Verify identity before considering the service
An ABC News report published on July 24, 2023 described Australian psychics finding fake accounts using their identities. It also outlined the practical difficulty of pursuing impersonation and fraud on social platforms. The report covers particular cases and interviewees; it does not establish that every online psychic account is fraudulent.
Users can check a practitioner’s official page for consultation links, look carefully for small differences in usernames and avoid transferring money in response to an unsolicited message. If an account claims there is an urgent crisis, demands secrecy or asks for passwords, verification codes or a large payment, stop the conversation and report it to the platform.
Personalized language can be used to manipulate
An impersonator may first create a sense of familiarity and then steer the conversation toward payment. Warm, specific phrasing can make someone feel seen, but that feeling does not verify an account’s identity. A message can appear “uncannily accurate” because it repeats details from a public comment or profile.
Identity transparency in a spiritual service should include a clear explanation of who is providing it, how it is priced, what the consultation covers and where to raise a complaint or request a refund. A human reader, a team member replying on their behalf or an automated tool can all be part of a service, as long as users know who or what they are interacting with.
What platforms and brands should take responsibility for
Social platforms should make impersonation reporting and identity appeals easy to find. Service providers should maintain official channels users can verify. User education does not replace platform governance: telling targets to “be careful” puts the burden on the people most vulnerable to the scheme.
Mystilink can make trust visible through product details: verifiable official accounts, accessible pricing and privacy policies, a clear explanation of where AI is involved, and working support and complaint channels. Safety claims need real processes behind them; marketing language alone cannot make a service trustworthy.
Don’t turn individual scams into a stigma against a whole field
Impersonation scams deserve attention, but they do not justify calling all psychic, tarot or astrology services fraudulent. The relevant questions concern specific conduct: Was an account impersonating someone? Were fees hidden? Were false promises made? Describing that conduct accurately protects consumers without stigmatizing practitioners who were not involved.
A quick check before an online consultation
Find the provider’s official channel, then check the service scope, price and data practices. Do not share financial information or verification codes in an unsolicited message. If someone is pressuring you to pay, pause and talk it through with a trusted person. A small identity check can preserve the convenience of a personalized service without sacrificing basic security.