Jun 6, 2025
What would you do for love? It’s a question we’ve likely all asked ourselves at some point, especially if we’re in a moment of emotional desperation.
For Joanne Whalen from Whitby, ON, she was willing to give over $50,000 to a so-called psychic to fall in love with someone she met at a fitness club. In an interview with CTV News, she explains how it started when the psychic gave her a reading and told Whalen she could bring the man closer to her for $550.
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Over the course of a year, Whalen repeatedly gave the psychic money to help increase her odds of finding love — ultimately to no avail.
Her story has prompted two other Ontario men to come forward with their supernatural misfortunes: one hoping to find love and the other cleansing demons.
Psychic scams continue
A man from Scarborough, Ontario, told CTV News he gave $75,000 to three different psychics in order to find love. Asked to be called Ray, the man stated he sought out a psychic to see if a woman he met online would be a good fit for him.
““He was telling me ‘The girl likes you very much,’” Ray said in an interview with CTV. The psychic further claimed that he could make the woman become madly in love with him for $12,000. Ray married the woman he met online, but their marriage was apparently fraught with difficulties.
The psychic Ray consulted continued to ask for money to ease these relational issues. It isn’t clear how their relationship is now, but Ray feels financially burned by the event regardless. “I was really scammed by these guys you know,” he told CTV.
Another man, who asked CTV to refer to him as HJ, was told by a psychic that he was manipulated by demons. “The psychic told me whatever demon was in me or my family would be removed,” HJ told CTV.
The so-called seer continued to ask for money, adding that the demons would be purged and HJ would win a large jackpot to top it off — only if he paid.
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HJ did pay the psychic, doling out over $80,000. It’s a choice he regrets deeply.
“I’m an idiot, I’m sorry. I feel like an idiot. Total idiot. I let this thing happen to me,” HJ said in an interview.
Both Ray and HJ told CTV the decision to pay these psychics has ruined their finances and they aren’t sure how they’ll come back from it.
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Just another type of fraud
Detective David Coffey with the Toronto Police Financial Crimes Unit told CTV that psychic fraud is just like any other type of financial deception, and should be treated accordingly.
“They’re targeting vulnerabilities. When they are guaranteeing love or something else like that and charging a lot of money, it’s a false representation and that’s when it delves into the world of fraud.”
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Coffey added that charging large sums of money and making unrealistic claims is illegal. “The criminal code is quite clear. Fraud is when someone uses deception to defraud another person,” he told CTV.
Under Canada’s Criminal Code, Section 380, individuals who use deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means to take money from people could face up to two years in prison. If they seek to defraud the public by altering the price of “stocks, shares, merchandise or anything that is offered for sale to the public…” they could face up to 14 years behind bars.
Fraud, especially when it plays on vulnerable desires like love or fame, can cripple you financially. What can you do to protect yourself?
Don’t get played: How to recognize a psychic scam
Whether or not you believe in the abilities some claim to possess, it's important to stay cautious — especially when you're emotionally vulnerable or seeking guidance in matters of the heart. If you're open to consulting a psychic, there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself from potential scams or manipulative practices.
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Do your research: The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) recommends thoroughly researching any service provider before engaging with them. In the case of psychics, look for credible reviews, seek out past client experiences and examine whether their services align with what they claim to offer.
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Be wary of high-pressure tactics: The Government of Canada cautions against paying anyone who uses aggressive or threatening language to demand immediate payment. This can be a red flag, not just in psychic services, but in any kind of financial transaction. Legitimate professionals should give you time and space to make decisions.
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Question big promises: The CAFC advises using common sense when evaluating claims. If someone offers miraculous results — especially in exchange for large sums of money — take a step back. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is.
You don’t need to believe or disbelieve in psychic abilities to benefit from protecting yourself. A healthy dose of skepticism, some due diligence and trusting your instincts can go a long way in avoiding emotional and financial harm.
As Meat Loaf once sang, “I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that.” Let “that” include falling for a costly promise with little to back it up.
Sources
1. CTV News: Whitby woman wants refund after giving psychic over $50,000 to help her fall in love (February 11, 2025)
2. CTV News: ‘I feel like an idiot’: Two Ontario men lose more than $150,000 to psychics (May 13, 2025)
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Brett Surbey is a corporate paralegal with KMSC Law LLP and freelance writer who has written for Yahoo Finance Canada, Success Magazine, Publishers Weekly, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Advisor and multiple academic journals. He and his family live in northern Alberta, Canada.
