Fortune teller arrested at Smith Haven Mall/Illegal to fortune read

Questioninggeller · 10th October 2009, 02:46 PM

Looks like "fortune telling" is illegal on Long Island. This woman, among the charges, was arrested on "three counts of fortune telling".

Quote:

Florida 'fortune teller' arrested at Smith Haven Mall
October 10, 2009 | 12:39 PM
northshoreoflongisland.com

Suffolk County Police Friday arrested a Florida woman for attempting to bilk a Smithtown woman out of more than $1,000 by pretending to read the victims fortune.

An 18-year-old Smithtown woman reported to police that she was approached at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on Sept. 7 by a woman claiming to be a psychic. The victim agreed to have her fortune read by Tiffany Evans for $25. During the reading, the victim was told that for another $100 she could have a more in-depth reading performed. The victim agreed and paid Evans, 22, of Aventura, Florida, a total of $125.

The victim met Evans at the mall on Sept. 9, was told she had a curse, and for an additional $1,250 would be given a stone and a body wash and the curse would be lifted.
...
Evans is charged with fraudulent accosting, three counts of fortune telling and attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree.
...

The Associated Press:

Quote:

Woman at New York mall charged in curse scam
WSBT-TV
October 10, 2009
...
She was charged with fraudulent accosting, fortune telling and attempted grand larceny, all misdemeanors.

Evans, who police said lives in Aventura, Fla., but was visiting her parents in Hauppauge, N.Y., was expected to make her first court appearance on Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip.

There was no phone listing for Evans in Aventura, and police did not release the address for her parents.
...

‎

shandyjan · 10th October 2009, 04:46 PM

fraudulent accosting, fortune telling and attempted grand larceny, all misdemeanors.

Sounds very grand...but just misdemeanors? What would the likely result be if found guilty?

EeneyMinnieMoe · 11th October 2009, 03:54 PM

Excellent. Bilking an 18 year old girl out of that kind of money? That's beyond despicable. For heaven's sake, that's a kid she preyed on.

That's how fortune teller always work; they offer a reading for a certain amount of money and then offer a "more in depth" reading for an extra amount and then up it again when the victim wants to know more.

Makes you wonder what exactly the difference is between a 10 dollar reading and a 20 dollar one; what will you tell me for 20 bucks that you won't for 10? How does that make any sense whatsoever? It's not as though a psychic is a dentist or a plumber or any other profession that offers different types of services for differing amounts of money.

That's what happened the first and only time I went to a palm reader. The old witch wanted $ 5, then $ 10 and then $ 15. I bailed at $ 5 (and didn't want to pay that) but the girl I was with handed her 10 bucks up front and then an extra 5. The woman must have read how reluctant I was to be there because practically snatched the money from my hand, barely looked at my hand, rattled out my reading at the speed of an auction host (I could barely follow and remember what she said about my future) and then instantly zoomed in on my companion and proceeded to systematically con her.

Tip for fortune tellers: put some work into it, for heaven's sake. They are paying you, they deserve your time. Why do you always make it so obvious you are just scamming someone? Why are you always so greedy for cash? Don't snatch customer's money. Don't rudely blow them off when they seem reluctant to pay you. Don't seem so desperate and so pushy. Some of you are practically wearing a sign that says "Gypsy Woman Looking for Caucasians to Scam" (not to pick on gypsies per se, it's just that they are the ones often doing it).

You don't need to be so sleazy. You don't need to be so greedy. Your behavior doesn't need to be so cheap. People are so gullible by nature, you have all your work done for you. Plus, a lot of the women who come to you just want to chat and gossip. Talk to them, give them your time, let them talk about their lives. If you are friendly, you will get much better results and give them something for their money.

Tumblehome · 12th October 2009, 10:40 PM

From the Associated Press story:

Quote:

Evans [the "fortune teller"] told the 18-year-old that she appeared "upset," and offered to read her fortune for $25...

She looks like a textbook con artist. Find someone who's upset and vulnerable, even better if she's an unformed teen, pretend to help her--and then take advantage of her as much as you can. Good for the young woman for going to the police, but she had already paid $725 before becoming suspicious. I hope she can recover some of that.

And kudos to the media in this case. In both linked stories, they write that Evans pretended to read her fortune.

Originally Posted by EeneyMinnieMoe

You don't need to be so sleazy. You don't need to be so greedy...

Good advice that I agree with wholeheartedly, but they are sleazy. They are greedy. That's the nature of scam artists. They have no conscience. To them, everyone is a potential mark to be played. If they can't be played, then they have no use for them, as you found out.

EeneyMinnieMoe · 13th October 2009, 08:04 PM

They would never survive in the business world. Any business world. If they were used car salesmen (or saleswomen), they wouldn't sell a single used car...and that's really saying something if you are too cheap and sleazy to be selling used cars!

Some con men (or con women) are as smooth as ice. They could talk you into anything while seeming as sincere and trustworthy as a newborn kitten. Fortune tellers do not belong in this category. I am amazed they can sell anyone a reading of any kind with their manners. And that goes for you, too, Sylvia Browne and John Edward.

They need to be sent to some seminar or college course to learn some much needed customer service skills.

10th October 2009, 02:46 PM	#1
Questioninggeller Master Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,551	Fortune teller arrested at Smith Haven Mall/Illegal to fortune read Looks like "fortune telling" is illegal on Long Island. This woman, among the charges, was arrested on "three counts of fortune telling". Quote: Florida 'fortune teller' arrested at Smith Haven Mall October 10, 2009 \| 12:39 PM northshoreoflongisland.com Suffolk County Police Friday arrested a Florida woman for attempting to bilk a Smithtown woman out of more than $1,000 by pretending to read the victims fortune. An 18-year-old Smithtown woman reported to police that she was approached at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on Sept. 7 by a woman claiming to be a psychic. The victim agreed to have her fortune read by Tiffany Evans for $25. During the reading, the victim was told that for another $100 she could have a more in-depth reading performed. The victim agreed and paid Evans, 22, of Aventura, Florida, a total of $125. The victim met Evans at the mall on Sept. 9, was told she had a curse, and for an additional $1,250 would be given a stone and a body wash and the curse would be lifted. ... Evans is charged with fraudulent accosting, three counts of fortune telling and attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree. ... The Associated Press: Quote: Woman at New York mall charged in curse scam WSBT-TV October 10, 2009 ... She was charged with fraudulent accosting, fortune telling and attempted grand larceny, all misdemeanors. Evans, who police said lives in Aventura, Fla., but was visiting her parents in Hauppauge, N.Y., was expected to make her first court appearance on Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip. There was no phone listing for Evans in Aventura, and police did not release the address for her parents. ... ‎
	__________________ "Paranormal phenomena have a habit of going away whenever they are tested under rigorous conditions. This is why the $740,000 reward of James Randi, offered to anyone who can demonstrate a paranormal effect under proper scientific controls, is safe." --Richard Dawkins

10th October 2009, 04:46 PM	#2
shandyjan Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N/W England Posts: 1,013	fraudulent accosting, fortune telling and attempted grand larceny, all misdemeanors. Sounds very grand...but just misdemeanors? What would the likely result be if found guilty?
	__________________ Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth. ~Ludwig Börne

11th October 2009, 03:54 PM	#3
EeneyMinnieMoe Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,704	Excellent. Bilking an 18 year old girl out of that kind of money? That's beyond despicable. For heaven's sake, that's a kid she preyed on. That's how fortune teller always work; they offer a reading for a certain amount of money and then offer a "more in depth" reading for an extra amount and then up it again when the victim wants to know more. Makes you wonder what exactly the difference is between a 10 dollar reading and a 20 dollar one; what will you tell me for 20 bucks that you won't for 10? How does that make any sense whatsoever? It's not as though a psychic is a dentist or a plumber or any other profession that offers different types of services for differing amounts of money. That's what happened the first and only time I went to a palm reader. The old witch wanted $ 5, then $ 10 and then $ 15. I bailed at $ 5 (and didn't want to pay that) but the girl I was with handed her 10 bucks up front and then an extra 5. The woman must have read how reluctant I was to be there because practically snatched the money from my hand, barely looked at my hand, rattled out my reading at the speed of an auction host (I could barely follow and remember what she said about my future) and then instantly zoomed in on my companion and proceeded to systematically con her. Tip for fortune tellers: put some work into it, for heaven's sake. They are paying you, they deserve your time. Why do you always make it so obvious you are just scamming someone? Why are you always so greedy for cash? Don't snatch customer's money. Don't rudely blow them off when they seem reluctant to pay you. Don't seem so desperate and so pushy. Some of you are practically wearing a sign that says "Gypsy Woman Looking for Caucasians to Scam" (not to pick on gypsies per se, it's just that they are the ones often doing it). You don't need to be so sleazy. You don't need to be so greedy. Your behavior doesn't need to be so cheap. People are so gullible by nature, you have all your work done for you. Plus, a lot of the women who come to you just want to chat and gossip. Talk to them, give them your time, let them talk about their lives. If you are friendly, you will get much better results and give them something for their money.
	__________________ Help Robert out- please visit (Stop) Sylvia Browne ! StopJohnofGod.blogspot.com

13th October 2009, 08:04 PM	#5
EeneyMinnieMoe Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,704	They would never survive in the business world. Any business world. If they were used car salesmen (or saleswomen), they wouldn't sell a single used car...and that's really saying something if you are too cheap and sleazy to be selling used cars! Some con men (or con women) are as smooth as ice. They could talk you into anything while seeming as sincere and trustworthy as a newborn kitten. Fortune tellers do not belong in this category. I am amazed they can sell anyone a reading of any kind with their manners. And that goes for you, too, Sylvia Browne and John Edward. They need to be sent to some seminar or college course to learn some much needed customer service skills.
	__________________ Help Robert out- please visit (Stop) Sylvia Browne ! StopJohnofGod.blogspot.com Last edited by EeneyMinnieMoe; 13th October 2009 at 08:10 PM.

12th October 2009, 10:40 PM	#4
Tumblehome Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Beside the point Posts: 1,100	From the Associated Press story: Quote: Evans [the "fortune teller"] told the 18-year-old that she appeared "upset," and offered to read her fortune for $25... She looks like a textbook con artist. Find someone who's upset and vulnerable, even better if she's an unformed teen, pretend to help her--and then take advantage of her as much as you can. Good for the young woman for going to the police, but she had already paid $725 before becoming suspicious. I hope she can recover some of that. And kudos to the media in this case. In both linked stories, they write that Evans pretended to read her fortune. Originally Posted by EeneyMinnieMoe You don't need to be so sleazy. You don't need to be so greedy... Good advice that I agree with wholeheartedly, but they are sleazy. They are greedy. That's the nature of scam artists. They have no conscience. To them, everyone is a potential mark to be played. If they can't be played, then they have no use for them, as you found out.