Sorcerers and psychics have started to benefit from the blessings of technology! On social media, they are, so to speak, running rampant. Dozens of fraudsters, offering 'guaranteed' online spell-breaking and ex-lover retrieval services within 48 hours, are pursuing fraud by exploiting people's spiritual feelings. The interesting thing is that they can advertise so easily by sharing addresses and phone numbers! So, why do we fall for it? Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluated the recent increase in sorcery incidents on social media for Hürriyet Newspaper columnist Fulya Soybaş.
“Everyone has an expectation of a savior”
Psychiatrist, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We try to explain events we cannot solve by linking them to supernatural, paranormal, mystical powers. Although belief in sorcerers has weakened with positive science, there is still demand, and fraudsters use this demand very well. For one thing, those who deal with magic and fortune-telling are, in my opinion, smarter than those who consult them! They know the needs of the other party well. Their face and mind-reading skills are also very high. They make their predictions by looking at the person's subconscious speech, intonations, and facial expressions, and it's not hard for them to say, ‘They've come for this.’ The person who hears this says, ‘Oh, look, they knew.’ Why? Because people are ready to believe in an unbelievably beautiful lie! Everyone has an expectation of a savior. In our culture, especially regarding sorcery, there is a tendency to believe stemming from Shamanistic tradition.”
“They exploit weaknesses”
“Most of us have weaknesses. For example, the fear that something will happen to my child, family, or loved ones! We feel helpless and weak in the face of these fears. Fraudsters exploit this feeling. People's desires and fears are limitless, but their power is limited. Mankind tries to fill this gap with magic, with fortune-telling. However, what they do is fraud. Don't believe it! Consult an expert. The number of patients who come to us without first consulting a jinn exorcist or sorcerer is so small... I always say the same thing: Stop, think, then believe!”
“It's as if they are marketing a product”
I corresponded with one of those fraudsters via Instagram, and then WhatsApp. For 1000 liras, claiming they could break a spell allegedly cast on me by my sister-in-law, they requested my private information such as my name, mother's name, date of birth, city of residence, and a photo. It is also noteworthy that the fraudster, who claimed the processes were 'guaranteed,' marketed this as if selling a product.