How to Choose a Genuine Shaman: Signs and Red Flags

By Team Shamans For Hire · October 30, 2026 · 7 min read

Short answer: a genuine shaman is open about where and how they learned, clear about price before you start, humble about what spiritual work can and can't do, and respectful of your choices, including your medical care. Fear, urgency, guarantees and escalating payments are the clearest warning signs of a scam.

Why this matters

Most spiritual practitioners are sincere. But fortune-telling scams are a known problem: the FBI and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission have both warned about schemes that use fear ("you are cursed") and urgency ("act now") to extract money, and several U.S. cases have involved victims losing tens of thousands of dollars to "curse removal". Knowing the signs protects you and respects the real practitioners whose traditions are being imitated.

10 signs of a trustworthy practitioner

They name their tradition and teacher. "I trained for six years with my grandmother in Nairobi" is more meaningful than "ancient powers".
They're specific about what they do: divination, prayer, dream interpretation, cleansing.
The price is clear up front, with no surprise add-ons.
They are humble about outcomes. They offer guidance and perspective, not guarantees.
They support your medical and mental health care and never tell you to stop treatment.
They respect boundaries and don't push you to share more than you want.
They give practical, grounded advice you can actually use.
They have real reviews from verified clients, including some that are less than perfect.
They keep your information confidential.
They are comfortable with you saying no or ending the session early.

8 red flags

"You have a curse, and I can remove it for a fee." This is the classic scam opener.
Escalating payments: a small first fee, then larger ones for candles, rituals or "cleansing" your money.
Asking you to hand over cash, jewellery or money "to be blessed" and returned later.
Guarantees: "your ex will return in 3 days", "you'll win the lottery".
Urgency and fear: "if you don't act tonight, something terrible will happen".
Secrecy: telling you not to discuss it with family.
Payment by gift card, wire transfer or crypto. The FTC notes that scammers favour payment methods that are hard to reverse.
Telling you to stop medication or avoid doctors.

Questions to ask before you book

"What tradition do you practise, and how did you learn?"
"What will a session with you actually involve?"
"What does it cost, in total?"
"What can't you help with?" (A good answer mentions medical, legal or financial matters.)

Cultural respect

Many Indigenous communities object to outsiders selling their ceremonies, and some terms, such as "medicine man", carry specific meaning within their nations. A respectful practitioner is honest about their own background and doesn't claim a tribal or lineage identity they don't hold. It is fair to ask.

How Shamans For Hire vets practitioners

We built our process around these risks. Every applicant is reviewed personally, including their tradition, training and experience, and each one signs an Independent Contractor Agreement and our Ethics Policy. Prices are shown on every profile and billed only per connected minute, through a card hold that caps the cost, so a session can never run up surprise charges. Practitioners may not ask for payment outside the platform. Reviews come only from callers who completed a paid call, and are moderated for safety, not for positivity. Read more on Our Standards.

If something feels wrong

End the call. You never owe anyone more money to "finish" a ritual. Report concerns to us at info@shamanforhire.com, and in the US you can report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you're in emotional crisis, call or text 988 in the US.

Ready to explore? Read what happens in a shaman reading by phone, or browse shaman readings and shamanic healing.

How common scams actually unfold

Knowing the pattern makes it easier to spot. Consumer agencies and court cases describe a remarkably consistent sequence:

A cheap or free first reading, often by phone, chat or an online ad, that builds rapport.
A frightening diagnosis: a curse, "dark energy", or a family hex, usually linked to whatever the person is already worried about.
A costly fix: candles, special prayers, a ritual "cleansing" of money, or jewellery to be "blessed".
Escalation: the problem is always bigger than first thought, and needs one more payment.
Isolation: the client is told not to tell family, because "it will break the work".

In New York, "fortune telling" for money is even an offence under Penal Law §165.35 unless it is clearly for entertainment, a law aimed squarely at these schemes, and police in several U.S. cities have prosecuted cases involving losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A quick checklist before you pay anyone

Can I see the full price before starting?
Is the payment going through a reputable processor that lets me dispute charges?
Has this person told me what they can't help with?
Do I feel calmer, or more afraid, after talking to them?
Would I be comfortable telling a friend exactly what I've been asked to pay for?

If any answer worries you, pause. A genuine practitioner will still be there tomorrow.

Respecting real practitioners

Scams hurt more than their victims: they also damage the reputation of sincere healers whose traditions are centuries old. Asking good questions is not disrespectful. Real practitioners welcome them.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a shaman is real?

Look for openness about tradition and training, clear upfront pricing, humility about outcomes, respect for medical care, and verified reviews.

Is curse removal a scam?

Demands for money to remove a curse are a well-known scam pattern flagged by consumer protection agencies. A genuine practitioner will not use fear to sell services.

Where can I report a psychic scam in the US?

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your local police.

Sources and further reading

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and spiritual interest. Readings and sessions on Shamans For Hire are spiritual guidance for reflection and entertainment purposes only, and are not a substitute for medical, psychological, legal or financial advice. 18+. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988. See our Entertainment Disclaimer and Our Standards.