When looking for a psychic or spiritual guidance, such as a tarot card reading, a psychic, astrologer, medium, or more, you need to be careful. This can be hard and overwhelming because there are so many people who are showing off their services on social media, but many of them are scammers. These are people who just take advantage of those looking for a reading.
So what should you do? Here are some of the 8 red flags with psychics that you should look out for when wanting to get a psychic reading!
- Energy Vampires
When you’re looking at red flags, energy vampires are big red flags when it comes to those who are spiritual practitioners. What is an energy vampire? Energy vampires are people who leave you feeling drained, tired, or even give you a headache after spending time with them.
You may feel the need to energetically cleanse yourself afterward. They may not even know they’re doing it, but they’re feeding off your energy, especially if you’re a sensitive person. If you leave a reading feeling worse than when you arrived, don’t go back. Sometimes an off day can happen, so if you feel okay giving it another try, do so, but trust your gut. Always check with others who’ve seen this person. If multiple people report the same experience, it’s probably not a one-time thing. Also, look up reviews; if there are none and they’re not new, that’s another red flag.
- Trauma Dumping
Trauma dumping is a huge red flag. If you’re paying for a session, that time is for you, not to serve as your reader’s therapist. Trauma dumping can also be a sneaky form of energy vampirism. You’re not there to listen to your reader’s personal hardships. If they begin to overshare, shut it down. That’s not okay.
Asking for your money back is totally fair in that case. The only time it’s acceptable is if they share a personal story as a teaching moment to help guide you, but the focus should always stay on you. A good reader uses teaching moments to help, not to vent.
- Upselling Their Readings
Every business upsells a little; it’s part of offering services, but there’s a difference between an upsell and a scam. If your reader tells you that there’s negative energy around you, that only they can fix it, and offers a $3000/month mentorship to “work on it together,” that’s manipulation. Especially if they warn that bad things will happen if you don’t act. Run. That’s not an upsell, that’s a scam. Green flag? A reader empowers you with steps you can take on your own or refers you to someone else who can help. If someone pressures you to make a purchase out of fear, it’s a giant red flag. Walk away and don’t be shy about telling others what happened. - Negativity
If a reader is overly negative and fills your session with fear-based messaging, get out of there. If they blame you for your problems or tell you to stop taking medication, run. This is not ethical behavior. Some of these readers may be struggling with their own issues, or worse, they’re scammers. Scare tactics are abusive.
If you can, leave a review to warn others. Read reviews, too. No reviews at all? That’s suspicious. A good sign? Google and Facebook reviews can’t be edited. Look for readers with repeat clients who speak about their positive experience over time.
- Any Kind of Health or Medication Advice
This is a major red flag. Any psychic or spiritual reader who tells you to stop taking medication, abandon your doctor, or that your thoughts are the sole reason for illness, please walk away. Some even go as far as recommending ingesting essential oils. Dangerous advice like this can put people’s lives at risk.
Orange flag: readers who want you to come back too often. Good readers encourage time between sessions so you can process what you learned. Orange flag: readers who lack clear boundaries. Check if they have a code of ethics on their website.
Legitimate readers know their limits; they are not doctors or lawyers. Ethical readers empower you to shape your outcome and guide you to resources when needed. Unethical ones just want your money.
A good reader will give you the right advice to set goals and help you figure out how to reach them. A reader who is a red flag will not care about you, but just your money.
- Too Much Positivity
When a psychic is too positive, this can also be a red flag. If your reading sounds too good to be true, and everything is just perfect and affirming, ask yourself, What am I really getting out of this? Readings aren’t meant to be constant validation. If nothing challenges you or sparks deeper reflection, what’s the point? Some readers may be afraid to deliver difficult news, but a good reader finds a balance between encouragement and honesty.
These are the kinds of readers who don’t want to give you bad news, but they always want you to come back for more positive results. A good psychic will give you both positive and negative news and won’t just tell you what you want to hear.
- Setting Time Limits
Ethical readers, especially mediums, will recommend waiting several weeks or even months after a major trauma or death before doing a reading. This allows time for grieving and ensures you’re emotionally ready. If someone insists on reading too soon after a loss, that’s a red flag; they’re prioritizing money over your healing. With astrology, be cautious of fatalistic messages or a rigid interpretation of your chart. Astrology is a tool, not a sentence.
Life isn’t set in stone. If someone tells you that you have to be a certain way or make a specific choice based on your chart, walk away. A good reader reminds you that you still write your own story.
- High Prices
If someone charges thousands of dollars for a session or insists that only pricey packages can fix your problems, it’s a big red flag. Check to see what other services they offer. Do they have something accessible for different budgets? Ethical readers usually offer a variety of options or a sliding scale. If the pricing feels off to you, it probably is. Trust yourself. It doesn’t have to be loud or obvious to be manipulative.
Final Thoughts
Sadly, some spiritual practitioners prey on people during their most vulnerable moments, when they’re grieving, confused, or looking for direction. But knowing these red flags helps protect you and others from falling into a harmful dynamic. Good readers want you to feel empowered, not dependent. Share this list with anyone who’s curious about getting a reading. You never know who it might help.
‘High prices’? What do you expect from psychics, a clearance sale? 😂 If they’re good at what they do, they deserve the price tag! Who doesn’t want the best advice?
‘Best advice’ shouldn’t come with such high costs! It’s exploitation disguised as service!
‘Too much positivity’ as a red flag? Really? So now we can’t even be hopeful without being accused of scamming? Seems like we’re just looking for reasons to be offended.
Great article! The point about energy vampires is particularly interesting and very real. Energy exchange is crucial, and knowing when someone drains you is key to maintaining your well-being.
‘Energy vampires’? Sounds like a bad horror movie plot. Maybe people just need better boundaries instead of labeling others.
This is all nonsense. If you’re relying on psychics, you need to reconsider your life choices. Just talk to a friend or a professional instead of these so-called ‘readers.’
I really appreciate this article! It points out really important things to look for when seeking a psychic. It’s scary how many people out there just want your money instead of actually helping you! 🥺
But can we trust this info? I mean, how do we know the author isn’t just another scammer trying to sell us something? 🤔
I think it’s a wonderful resource! It makes me feel more confident about finding someone who truly cares. Thanks for sharing! 💖