Exposing Spiritual Scam Tactics: A Practitioner’s Guide to Protecting Yourself

Exposing Spiritual Scams, is Something I’m dedicated to, in an effort to. Teach the public that not everybody that practices witchcraft. Is evil.

By Bran Alder — Master Occult Practitioner, 30+ Years of Experience

As a practitioner with over 30 years of experience in legitimate spiritual work, I’ve witnessed an alarming rise in spiritual scammers preying on vulnerable individuals seeking real help. This guide pulls back the curtain on their most common deceptive tactics so you can protect yourself — and others — before handing over your trust or your money.

The Most Common Spiritual Scam Tactics

1. Fear-Based Manipulation

This is the #1 tool in a Spiritual scammer’s kit. They create immediate panic by claiming to sense curses, dark forces, or impending disasters around you. The message is always the same: only they can fix it, and only right now.

2. The Urgency Trap

• “Limited time offer — this price expires tonight”
• Claims that evil forces grow stronger if you wait
• “Today only” pricing designed to override your judgment
• Pressure to decide before consulting anyone else

3. Anonymous or Unverifiable Identity

• No real name, verifiable address, or business registration
• Vague claims of “ancient” or “secret” lineage
• No transparent pricing or clear service descriptions
• Resistance to basic identity verification

4. The Escalating Fees Scheme

This one unfolds slowly. It starts with a small, reasonable fee. Then they “discover” a deeper problem. Then another layer. Each revelation comes with a new charge. Legitimate practitioners assess your full situation upfront and give you a complete plan — not a drip feed of bad news designed to extract more money.

5. False Promises and Impossible Guarantees

No ethical practitioner guarantees specific outcomes in love, money, or any other area of life. Anyone promising instant results, permanent solutions, or a money-back guarantee with fine-print conditions designed to deny refunds is not working in your best interest.

Red Flags in Your DMs

Social media has made it easy for scammers to reach you directly. Watch for these patterns:

• Someone slides into your DMs claiming to have a message from your ancestors or “from beyond”
• Someone messages you after a follow with “Can I offer you a reading?” — this usually leads to a request for “donations” that never end
• Anyone who cold-contacts you online for spiritual services should be treated with extreme caution

The Do’s and Don’ts When Hiring a Practitioner

What NOT to Do

• Don’t volunteer information upfront. A real practitioner asks you the questions — you don’t feed them the answers.
• Don’t reveal how urgent or desperate you feel. Scammers exploit emotional vulnerability.
• Don’t imply money is no object. This is an open invitation for escalating charges.
• Don’t accept outrageous pricing for spell work (see the pricing guide below).
• Don’t send objects of significant monetary value. Personal items used in ritual work — hair, a toothbrush, a business card, a straw they drank from — are inexpensive by nature. If you’re asked to send jewelry or valuables, that is a red flag.
• Don’t share your target’s social media profiles or any way for the practitioner to contact them directly. This boundary protects both parties.
• Don’t be enticed by “pay after success” offers. This is a blackmail setup. They collect all your personal information and your target’s information — and then hold it over you.

What TO Do

• Ask questions: What guarantees do they offer? How long does each ritual take? What materials are required and what do they cost?
• Find out where they’re located and ask for verifiable proof. A legitimate practitioner has no reason to hide their name, location, or basic business information. Ask for a selfie with a specific gesture that couldn’t be pulled from a Google image search. Proof of address (a utility bill, a local newspaper with a visible date) is a reasonable request.
• Make sure their website uses a secure connection — look for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, take a step back. Consult a trusted friend or family member before committing.

Understanding Fair Pricing for Spiritual Work

One of the most powerful tools against scammers is knowing what things should cost. Here is a realistic pricing framework based on professional standards:

Basic Rituals
A standard ritual involves significant setup and energy work. Fair pricing ranges from $160–$255 USD/CAD.

Complex Rituals
For more involved work requiring greater expertise, expect $450–$850, depending on the practitioner’s experience level.

Material Costs
For most traditions — Celtic folk magic, Wicca, even demonology — material costs should not significantly exceed $130. One exception worth noting is Santa Muerte work, where specialty candles can range from $30–$100 each, and multiple may be required. A trustworthy practitioner will tell you exactly which candles are needed so you can verify the cost yourself online before agreeing.

The $1,200 Rule
If your total bill for spell work reaches $1,200 or more, you are almost certainly being scammed.

The Highest I Have Ever Charged for a single session was $890 — and that was before applying a client rebate.

Understanding Ritual Stacking

In most situations, more than one ritual is needed — especially when multiple people are involved in the situation. Here’s how to think about it:

• Two people involved = likely two spells
• A third person in the dynamic may require a third spell, depending on their role
• Each additional person added to the situation adds potential cost — which is why it’s critical to tell your practitioner everything upfront

You should receive a rebate for stacked work. Professionals buy in bulk and pass savings on. A 15–20% discount on multi-ritual packages is a reasonable standard. A $5–$10 “discount” is not.

After your practitioner gives you a complete plan, there should be no add-ons — unless you request them, or unless you withheld information that later changes the scope of the work.

Legitimate Practitioners vs. Scammers at a Glance

Geographic Red Flags

Exercise particular caution with individuals claiming to be professional practitioners from Uganda, Nigeria, or certain parts of West Africa. This is not a generalization about all practitioners from these regions — it is a reflection of well-documented, high-volume scam networks that specifically target English-speaking spiritual seekers from these locations.

Language Red Flags

Be wary of anyone using phrases like: “powerful love spells,” “powerful spellcaster,” “immediate results,” or “instant results.” These are marketing signals designed to appeal to desperation, not markers of genuine skill.

Known Scammers (Documented)

The following individuals have been identified through personal investigation, documented conversations, or firsthand accounts provided to me. I am publishing these names in the interest of public protection.

• Chief Priest Moore (Quora)
• Priest Moore (Quora)
• Joseph Moore (Quora)
• Priest Seymour (Quora)
• Priest Silva (Quora) — Has reportedly provided individuals with a “love potion” recipe containing toxic ingredients and decomposed animal matter, and claims to facilitate physical sex changes through magic
• Priestess Lara (Quora)
• Raven Zachariah (Quora, Reddit)
• Mama Anna (Quora, Reddit, YouTube)
• Original Ninja Cat (Reddit, personal blog)
• Mike B (YouTube, Reddit)
• Shaman (Dark Web)
• John Warlock / John the Warlock (Quora)
• Andy (@donkeyinthewell02)/863 (@anduryu)/#as (@donkey.in): TikTok: These are all the same accounts.

This list will be updated as additional documentation is received and verified.

A Final Word

At SCG Witchery, every service we offer is clearly defined, every price is stated upfront, and every method is rooted in established spiritual tradition — not fear. True spiritual work is about empowerment, not exploitation.

If a practitioner is using fear to push you into fast decisions or emergency payments, that is not spiritual guidance. That is a scam.

Have you encountered a spiritual scammer? Share your experience in the comments. Your story could protect someone else.