| With her Jamaican accent Miss Cleo, a self | | | | such calls. |
| proclaimed psychic and shaman would give you | | | | Our Advice... |
| the answers to all life's mysteries... for up to 9.95 | | | | This genre brings in the "riff-raff." Anybody can |
| per minute. | | | | call themselves a medium, get a 900 number |
| Turns out, Miss Cleo was not born in Jamaica at | | | | website & prey on the lonely, desperate |
| all. A birth certificate showing that Miss Cleo was | | | | people of the world. Save your money and time |
| in reality Youree Dell Harris, an American born in | | | | and AVOID at all costs people that call |
| Los Angeles in 1962. | | | | themselves psychics, palmists, clairvoyants, |
| According to the FTC, the purportedly "renowned | | | | futurists, astrologists, numerologists, mediums, |
| psychic" whose ads promote "free" readings to | | | | trancers or witches. |
| callers seeking advice, is the subject of a federal | | | | Unless... |
| district court complaint filed by the Federal Trade | | | | They have a record over a period of time with a |
| Commission. The charges include: | | | | successful and satisfied client list. Most reputable |
| -Deceptively misrepresent, in their advertising, | | | | firms will allow to check their references without |
| that a "reading" will be provided at no cost. | | | | question, email addresses, telephone numbers etc. |
| - Through their agents, misrepresent the cost of | | | | If they don't beware! Some people do have a gift |
| the calls by claiming that consumers' free minutes | | | | in this area and can give you quality readings and |
| have not expired, that the consumer had been | | | | enlightenment beyond what a "normal person" can |
| awarded additional free time, or that the | | | | do. It's simply a matter of detecting the scams. |
| consumer will not be charged while on hold. | | | | Most of the firms that offer psychic and |
| - Falsely represent that consumers are legally | | | | horoscope readings online, the good ones anyway, |
| required to pay for services even though, in | | | | have a very detailed personal information section |
| many instances, no such legal obligation exists; and | | | | that requires your input. Think of it like signing up |
| engages in unfair practices by frequently and | | | | for a personals site. The ones that require lots of |
| repeatedly calling consumers, including consumers | | | | information from you usually get the best results. |
| who had previously indicated they did not wish to | | | | This makes your reading more personal and |
| receive such calls, and by failing to provide | | | | specific. The bad ones will give you only canned |
| consumers with a reasonable method to stop | | | | replies and fluff. |