You've found a psychic online who seems perfect. Their website is professional, they have dozens of glowing 5-star reviews, and their Google Business page is filled with grateful testimonials. But here's a question that might save you time, money, and heartache:
Are those reviews actually real?
During our research into the spiritual guidance industry, we discovered something troubling: fake reviews are not just common—they're practically standard practice for many unethical practitioners.
📊 The Fake Review Problem
Recent studies show that up to 42% of reviews on some platforms are fake or manipulated. In the spiritual services industry, that number may be even higher due to less regulation and oversight.
Where Fake Reviews Hide (And Why They're So Convincing)
The most dangerous fake reviews aren't the obviously fake ones written in broken English or posted all on the same day. The sophisticated fakes are crafted to look completely authentic. Here's where you'll find them:
1. On Their Own Website
This should be obvious, but it's worth saying: testimonials on a psychic's personal website are completely unverified. Anyone can write anything and post it as a "client review."
🚨 Red Flag
Reviews that only exist on the practitioner's own website, with no way to verify the reviewer's identity or independently confirm the experience.
Even if the reviews are real, you're only seeing the carefully curated positive ones. No business owner posts their 2-star reviews on their homepage.
2. Google Business Reviews (Yes, Even These)
Google reviews feel more trustworthy because they're attached to real Google accounts, but our research found several disturbing patterns:
- Review farms: Services that sell Google reviews for $5-25 each
- Account recycling: Old, abandoned Google accounts being used to post fake reviews
- Geographic clustering: Multiple reviews from the same IP address or geographic area
- Template language: Reviews that use similar phrases or identical sentence structures
"Amazing reading! She told me everything I needed to hear. Very accurate and helped me so much. 5 stars definitely recommend!"
Posted by "Jennifer S." with no profile photo and no other review history
3. Social Media "Testimonials"
Instagram stories, Facebook posts, and TikTok testimonials can be even easier to fake. Screenshots can be doctored, accounts can be created specifically for fake testimonials, and there's often no way to verify the person actually received a reading.
How to Spot Fake Reviews: The Tell-Tale Signs
Here's what to look for when evaluating reviews:
✅ Fake Review Red Flags
- Generic language: Vague praise without specific details about the reading
- Similar timing: Multiple reviews posted within days of each other
- Perfect scores only: All 5-star reviews with no 4-star or 3-star feedback
- No reviewer details: Profiles with no photos, fake names, or no review history
- Overuse of keywords: Reviews that sound like marketing copy
- Defensive language: Reviews that specifically address common complaints
Compare These Two Reviews:
"Best psychic ever! So accurate and amazing. She predicted everything perfectly and I got exactly what I wanted. Five stars!"
"Had a tarot reading with Sarah last month about a career decision. She didn't tell me what to do, but helped me think through the pros and cons in a way I hadn't considered. The cards she pulled felt relevant to my situation. Booked a follow-up for next month."
Notice how the real review mentions specific details, shows realistic expectations, and doesn't make grandiose claims?
Platform Reviews: Better, But Not Perfect
Reviews on major psychic platforms (like Keen, Kasamba, or Purple Garden) are generally more reliable because:
- Reviewers must be verified customers who actually paid for a reading
- The platforms have systems to detect fake reviews
- There's accountability on both sides
However, even these platforms aren't immune to manipulation. Some practitioners offer discounts or incentives for positive reviews, or they may provide readings to friends and family who then post glowing feedback.
Why Independent Verification Matters
This is why independent, third-party verification is becoming so important in the spiritual guidance industry. When a review platform has no financial relationship with the practitioners they review, the feedback becomes much more reliable.
Think about it: Consumer Reports doesn't accept advertising from car manufacturers, which is why their car reviews are trusted. Movie critics aren't paid by movie studios, which is why their reviews have credibility.
✅ Look for These Trust Signals
- Reviews from independent platforms that don't profit from bookings
- Verification processes that confirm reviewer identities
- Mix of ratings (not just 5-star reviews)
- Specific, detailed feedback about the reading experience
- Reviewers with established online histories
- Third-party credentials or certifications
What to Do Instead
So how do you find trustworthy psychics if you can't rely on reviews? Here are better strategies:
Smart Vetting Strategies:
- Ask friends for personal recommendations
- Look for practitioners verified by independent organizations
- Check for professional certifications or training credentials
- Start with a short, low-cost session to test compatibility
- Trust your instincts during initial conversations
- Look for clear, ethical business practices
The Bottom Line
Reviews can be helpful, but they shouldn't be your only deciding factor when choosing a psychic. Fake reviews are too common, too convincing, and too easy to create.
Instead, look for multiple trust signals: independent verification, professional credentials, transparent business practices, and personal recommendations from people you trust.
Remember: a truly gifted psychic doesn't need to rely on fake reviews to build their reputation. Their authentic work speaks for itself through genuine client relationships and word-of-mouth referrals.
💡 Pro Tip
If a psychic has hundreds of reviews but they're all generic and overly positive, that's actually more suspicious than having a smaller number of detailed, mixed reviews.
Finding Authentic Guidance
At PsychicReview.org, we're working to solve the fake review problem by independently verifying practitioners and collecting unbiased feedback from real clients. Because you deserve to make decisions based on truth, not marketing.