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United States: A 'psychic' who defrauded a woman of $130,000 (US) has been sent to prison for a year and a day. Julia Tan was contacted by the woman to help find a lost cat.
Tan then told the woman she was surrounded by evil spirits but for a $5,000 fee she could get rid of them and return her cat.
Tan later offered to repair the woman'sauraand find her a soul mate for $10,000 in cash. The woman complied, and in April 2003 traveled to Philadelphia to meet Tan and give her $10,000.
Tan sought and received more money by telling the woman she needed to buy special candles from Israel and burn them near images of the woman and her cat in order to remove the evil surrounding them, Anderson said.
After the woman returned to the La Crosse area, Tan convinced her to send still more money for gold jewelry that Tan claimed she needed to drive away evil spirits.
The woman eventually contacted the FBI after the cat failed to return. 'Psychic' sentenced for fraud - La Crosse Tribune, 2nd April 2004.
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Superstition and Other Silliness
at 12:02. Last modified on September 28 2006 at 23:42.
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Comments
1: Posted by: Red Wolf | April 3, 2004 12:31 AM
While Tan has committed a crime and should go to jail, her victims should also be punished for their amazing lack of clue.
Perhaps it's time to bring back the stocks for a little public ridicule in the town square.
2: Posted by: Feòrag | April 3, 2004 1:47 AM
If only the newspaper had named her -- that would've had the same effect.
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