By Tim Binnall
A purported psychic medium in Australia is under fire for a suspicious series of cancelled ghost tours that some disappointed customers believe were part of an elaborate scheme. According to a local media report, self-described 'white witch' Alicia Cartwright sold three-hour excursions to paranormal hotspots around the state of Victoria. However, multiple individuals who bought tickets for her 'Mystery Haunted Spirit Bus' tours have come forward with rather unfortunate accounts about the experience or lack thereof.
"She said, 'it's selling out fast, there’s only 15 seats, so get in, hurry,'" recalled Geelong resident Jackie, who bought three tickets for the tour. However, hours before its scheduled start time, she said, the excursion was cancelled because of an alleged issue with the bus company. Echoing that tale was another customer, named Michael, who received word the night before his tour that it was not happening. "First was the bus; she couldn’t get hold of the bus," he said, "then it was her children were sick and all that and then I really started to get suss on her."
A third customer, Jacki, told Australian media that she was told that her tour was cancelled while waiting at the designated spot at the start of the 'adventure.' "We waited; there was nobody there, no other people that were going on it," she explained, indicating that she finally found out the excursion was not happening when the psychic cited "problems with the bus company" in a message. When the dismayed customers attempted to get refunds for their cancelled trips, they said that they were told to wait two weeks, but still did not receive their money when the imposed deadline arrived.
"I think it was her plan all along to cancel," Jacki mused. Michael expressed similar frustration, recounting how "the last message she was telling us, 'I am so truly sorry for this turn of events', she believes in divine and everything happens for a reason and then gave us her blessings and that was the last we heard of her." After raising the issue with the authorities and Australian media, two of the customers did finally receive their refunds; however, Michael is still holding the bag for the tour that never was. For her part, when contacted about the situation, Cartwright insisted that the events were on the level. However, she asserted that "serious safety issues involving myself and my children" forced her to shutter the business, promising all remaining refunds would soon be issued.