By Tim Binnall
Serving as further proof that psychic shenanigans can occur all over the world, a pair of Latvian women say they were swindled out of a staggering $175,000 by online 'mystics' who claimed they could perform magic rituals. According to a local media report, the two separate victims were each ensnared by a localized Facebook ad offering psychic services. Following a playbook used far too often, the soothsayers slowly gained the women's trust before promising to improve their lives or lift a curse hanging over them ... for a price.
Between the two victims, one ultimately paid out an astonishing $45,000 to the faux mystic they met online, and the other forked over a jaw-dropping $138,000 for the 'psychic services.' When the problems plaguing their lives did not magically resolve themselves, the clients understandably grew suspicious. However, when they sought an explanation for their continued misfortune, both women were promptly ghosted by the crooks.
In light of the sizeable sum of money involved in the scheme, the Latvian national police service announced an investigation into the two cases with the intention of charging the psychics with "fraud committed on a large scale." Sadly, since the criminals operated online, it is uncertain whether they are even in the country or whether the cops can find them. With that in mind, authorities highlighted the case as a warning to residents about trusting online mystics making grand promises.