hypnosis frauds

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on August 29, 2008 at 8:58am

This sounds to me like a typical "gypsy" scam, one where one gets some gullible schmuck to believe that some item (always valuable) is "cursed" and must be "cleansed" or destroyed. It has little to do with hypnosis and a lot to do with scamming someone through playing on cultural and social belief systems, urban legends and just plain fast-talk.

Often, in such scams, the item will be placed in a "sacred cloth," folded up and prayers said over it. When the item is removed from the cloth, it is shown to be little more than ash. What's really happened is that the original item of value has been switched out for the garbage that's used to convince the mark that the item had been "cursed" and that the "Power of God" has destroyed the "curse." Unfortunately, that same "power" also destroyed the item because "it had become evil, itself," or some such nonsense.

The switch, known as Hokkani Baro, the Gypsy Switch, is well known to many magicians and vice police. It is commonly used, worldwide.

Lee Darrow, C.H.
www.leedarrow.com
www.stagehypnosissafetyclass.com

Permalink Reply by chris john on September 3, 2008 at 12:29am

just sounds like the kid was scared his parents were gonna die.
it sounds like the guy was just threatening,
rather than using any persuasive techniques.

Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on September 3, 2008 at 10:39am

When you get down to it, the kid was blackmailed. It's called emotional blackmail. It's also called a veiled threat against another person's life because, in the eyes of the law, there are no "demons," only people who threaten other people.

The kid should have gone straight to the cops. Or someone else should have.

Lee Darrow, C.H.
www.stagehypnosissafetyclass.com
"The Stage Hypnosis Safety Guy"

Permalink Reply by Ankit on September 9, 2008 at 1:50am

but the kid was not tensed up on the interview he also said that if he was blackmaled he would tell his mom about it and his mother told that he was quiet happy

Permalink Reply by Ankit on September 9, 2008 at 1:51am

he did it willingly

Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on September 9, 2008 at 8:28am

Again, if the kid said anything to anger the Bad Guy, he would put his parents and family at risk. So of course he would do his best to stay calm in the interview. Otherwise, he would, in his mind, get his family dead.

Or, he was in on the scam, of course - there is always that possibility, which is starting to seem much more likely from your description.

;)

Lee Darrow, C.H.
www.stagehypnosissafetyclass.com
"The Stage Hypnosis Safety Guy"

Permalink Reply by Dany - RenaissanceHypnosis.Co.Uk on October 21, 2008 at 7:42pm

This would work the same way as the paying with paper explanation I gave and I do not want to repost so just go and give it a read but there would be an other very important component here and as this one is not an effect but a crime I will not explain it. But in your question itself some elements are present that explains why the kid was so suggestible. Really think about it now! I will not teach people how to use those techniques but they exist and are actually based on very common concepts.

Lee's answer offers a few good example of how the "effect" will call it result in this case, can be framed, in something that is strengthened by the boys morals. Everyone has seen a preacher do a fall back induction on some expecting (very expecting) follower that then feels like he has been cured! I talk about this in my contribution to a book that will be published soon I think you would like it! Its for those same reasons that voodoo scares anyone who believes and expect it to work.

Permalink Reply by Dany - RenaissanceHypnosis.Co.Uk on October 22, 2008 at 6:08pm

In the case of simple threaths the kid would have brought it then might have felt bad about it and lied too, never underestimate the good old fashion strong arm tactics!

Dany Leblanc C.H.

Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on February 11, 2009 at 2:37am

I agree with everyone that it is a scam. I have never heard of this before hopefully this isn't still going on.

Permalink Reply by Brian David Phillips on February 11, 2009 at 3:50am

From your description of the scam, it has nothing at all to do with hypnosis. Yes, there is a belief among some Indians that hypnosis allows one to take advantage of folks but the evidence in stories like this is far from evidence. This had nothing to do with hypnosis and everything to do with inappropriate influence, persuasion, emotional blackmail, and the like.

All the best,
Brian
http://www.briandavidphillips.com

Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on February 11, 2009 at 1:45pm

Emotional blackmail is blackmail that even the victim is usually not aware of. It plays on the fears and beliefs of the victim. Convince someone of something and they will behave accordingly, no matter how absurd the belief is to the rest of us.

Ask any abused spouse. They stay because they believe they cannot leave, no matter how bad it gets - some at the cost of their very lives - and they become very good actors or actresses in concealing what's really going on, especially in the cases where no physical abuse is present...

Lee Darrow, C.H.
"The Stage Hypnosis Safety Guy"

Permalink Reply by Chief on December 13, 2009 at 12:33am

Absolutely Russia Gypsys scam technique.