TV Psychic or Stock Photo?

gerdbonk · 27th June 2012, 09:02 PM

Here is a blog entry from a young lad in Ireland about his experience rooting out some misrepresentation on the part of a TV Psychic call-in show.

Con artists working on national television

Quote:

To me [the psychics'] photos looked like stock photos online and after several more minutes I decided to take a screenshot and reverse image search one of the psychics. Guess what? It’s not often, but I was right!

And here's a write-up with responses from the broadcaster and "Psychic Wayne":

TV3 distances itself from Psychic Wayne TV broadcast

c4llum · 28th June 2012, 04:27 AM

Haha, that just goes to show how absurd the whole concept of tv psychics is. I think it was let week or the week before someone called him up and pretended to me Will Smith. Brilliant. Now hopefully this fraudster will be taken off tv.

sophia8 · 28th June 2012, 05:30 AM

I wonder if the people ringing up "Sean" know that he's an advisor on premature ejaculation in another life?

Brown · 28th June 2012, 06:11 AM

Next thing you know, someone will blow the lid off of the scam that the phone sex ladies don't really look like the ladies in the pictures.

Drudgewire · 28th June 2012, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by c4llum

Haha, that just goes to show how absurd the whole concept of tv psychics is. I think it was let week or the week before someone called him up and pretended to me Will Smith. Brilliant. Now hopefully this fraudster will be taken off tv.

For those who haven't seen it, it's pretty hilarious.

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Olowkow · 28th June 2012, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Drudgewire

For those who haven't seen it, it's pretty hilarious.

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Fixed.

leon_heller · 28th June 2012, 07:15 AM

With the recent switchover to digital TV in our area, I can now watch a channel called Big Deal which has a programme called Psychic Today every evening. Supposed psychics answer telephone calls from people wanting advice about various problems. It looks very like the clip in the previous post.

Drudgewire · 28th June 2012, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Olowkow

Fixed.

Thanks.

I Ratant · 28th June 2012, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by brown

next thing you know, someone will blow the lid off of the scam that the phone sex ladies don't really look like the ladies in the pictures.

.
no!

Marduk · 28th June 2012, 08:36 AM

When you commit fraud in the real world you get arrested
when you commit fraud on TV you get paid, in the hypothetical future when I become a deranged vigilante psycho killer I know who I'll be targeting
movie at 11

zenbuffy · 29th June 2012, 08:08 AM

Something that non-Irish readers might not have come across - an Irish magician, Keith Barry, issued a challenge to "psychic" Wayne, ala Randi's million dollar challenge. Here (http://98fm.com/2012/onair/category-...000-challenge/), you can see a youtube video of Wayne and Keith discussing it on an Irish radio show.

Stomatopoda · 4th July 2012, 10:06 PM

Reverse image searching is my favorite thing to come from the internet in the past decade. So many useful applications...

baron · 5th July 2012, 05:41 AM

Making a charge for psychic and medium services should be illegal. It's absurd that it isn't.

Charge an old lady for bogus work to her roof - a year in jail.

Charge hundreds of grieving old ladies for lying about their dead relatives - a TV show.

Safe-Keeper · 5th July 2012, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Charge an old lady for bogus work to her roof - a year in jail.

Charge hundreds of grieving old ladies for lying about their dead relatives - a TV show.

Big company is slammed for fraud: Big pharma is evil!!!11
Anything New Age or "alternative" is slammed for fraud: so what, it's just one guy. Evil sceptics!

27th June 2012, 09:02 PM	#1
gerdbonk Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula Posts: 3,091	TV Psychic or Stock Photo? Here is a blog entry from a young lad in Ireland about his experience rooting out some misrepresentation on the part of a TV Psychic call-in show. Con artists working on national television Quote: To me [the psychics'] photos looked like stock photos online and after several more minutes I decided to take a screenshot and reverse image search one of the psychics. Guess what? It’s not often, but I was right! And here's a write-up with responses from the broadcaster and "Psychic Wayne": TV3 distances itself from Psychic Wayne TV broadcast
	__________________ You fools! I'm savoirferret! My ancient and apparently abandoned comic strip blog is Unbolded Did you say Photos of TAM 9?

28th June 2012, 04:27 AM	#2
c4llum Scholar Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 57	Haha, that just goes to show how absurd the whole concept of tv psychics is. I think it was let week or the week before someone called him up and pretended to me Will Smith. Brilliant. Now hopefully this fraudster will be taken off tv.
c4llum Scholar Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 57

28th June 2012, 05:30 AM	#3
sophia8 Master Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the dark, dark forest.... Posts: 2,266	I wonder if the people ringing up "Sean" know that he's an advisor on premature ejaculation in another life?
	__________________ "Nature is floods and famines and earthquakes and viruses and little blue-footed booby babies getting their brains pecked out by their stronger siblings! ....Nature doesn't care about me, or about anybody in particular - nature can be terrifying! Why do they even put words like 'natural' on products like shampoo, like it's automatically a good thing? I mean, sulfuric acid is natural!" -Julia Sweeney

28th June 2012, 06:11 AM	#4
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 12,184	Next thing you know, someone will blow the lid off of the scam that the phone sex ladies don't really look like the ladies in the pictures.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

28th June 2012, 07:15 AM	#7
leon_heller Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,090	With the recent switchover to digital TV in our area, I can now watch a channel called Big Deal which has a programme called Psychic Today every evening. Supposed psychics answer telephone calls from people wanting advice about various problems. It looks very like the clip in the previous post.
	__________________ Leon Heller G1HSM

28th June 2012, 07:52 AM	#8
Drudgewire Critical Doofus Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9,434	Originally Posted by Olowkow Fixed. Thanks.
	__________________ "You post a lie, it is proven 100% false, you move the goalposts and post yet another lie and it continues on around till we're back to the original lie as if it will somehow become true if it's re-iterated again. The same misquotes over and over again. The same hindsight bias, appeals to authority, etc." -lapman describing every twoofer on the internet

28th June 2012, 08:34 AM	#9
I Ratant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,305	Originally Posted by brown next thing you know, someone will blow the lid off of the scam that the phone sex ladies don't really look like the ladies in the pictures. . no!

28th June 2012, 08:36 AM	#10
Marduk Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 10,242	When you commit fraud in the real world you get arrested when you commit fraud on TV you get paid, in the hypothetical future when I become a deranged vigilante psycho killer I know who I'll be targeting movie at 11

29th June 2012, 08:08 AM	#11
zenbuffy Student Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 30	Something that non-Irish readers might not have come across - an Irish magician, Keith Barry, issued a challenge to "psychic" Wayne, ala Randi's million dollar challenge. Here (http://98fm.com/2012/onair/category-...000-challenge/), you can see a youtube video of Wayne and Keith discussing it on an Irish radio show.

4th July 2012, 10:06 PM	#12
Stomatopoda Muse Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 862	Reverse image searching is my favorite thing to come from the internet in the past decade. So many useful applications...
Stomatopoda Muse Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 862

5th July 2012, 05:41 AM	#13
baron Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hill Posts: 1,910	Making a charge for psychic and medium services should be illegal. It's absurd that it isn't. Charge an old lady for bogus work to her roof - a year in jail. Charge hundreds of grieving old ladies for lying about their dead relatives - a TV show.
	__________________

5th July 2012, 06:17 AM	#14
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,124	Quote: Charge an old lady for bogus work to her roof - a year in jail. Charge hundreds of grieving old ladies for lying about their dead relatives - a TV show. Big company is slammed for fraud: Big pharma is evil!!!11 Anything New Age or "alternative" is slammed for fraud: so what, it's just one guy. Evil sceptics!