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♪♪
Goldberg: Tonight, a journey
inside the world of psychics,
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00:00:03,303 --> 00:00:06,539
something I know
a little bit about,
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00:00:06,539 --> 00:00:09,008
as I played one in
the movie "Ghost."
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You are fortunate today.
The spirits are churning.
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Nygaard: They know just how
to weasel in emotionally,
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take advantage of that
vulnerable person.
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"Can you guide me?
Can you lead me?
Can you help me?"
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She asked me to write
her a check for $27,000.
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[ Distorted ]
I was absolutely amazed
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she would ask me
for that kind of money.
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Goldberg:
Three women and the psychics
they say preyed on them
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and one tenacious detective
who's out for justice.
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She was messing
with the wrong person.
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I'm Whoopi Goldberg,
and this is "The Con."
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♪♪
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A con artist persuades
by deception.
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Debra, Priti, and Ruth say
their lives were devastated
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by exactly that.
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♪♪
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I was angry and disappointed,
and I needed some answers.
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I needed them now.
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Goldberg:
In 2008, Debra Saalfield
is living the dream,
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following her passion for
competitive ballroom dancing.
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Saalfield:
I was trying to become
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one of the world's
best amateur dancers,
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and I was training with one
of the finest ballroom dancers
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in the country.
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Goldberg: Cool.
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But then, one day,
things suddenly go wrong ‐‐
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very, very wrong.
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I was in my boyfriend's
apartment in Greenwich Village,
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and I received my first
phone call at 9:00 AM
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that I was let go
from both of my jobs
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because of the economy.
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That meant that I would
not be able to travel
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to work out
with my competitive instructor.
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I was absolutely in shock.
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I couldn't handle what was
going through my mind,
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thinking "I'm gonna lose
my instructor.
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I've lost two jobs."
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And I had a severe argument
with my boyfriend,
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and I broke up with him.
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I was going home,
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and I decided to stop by
and look at this psychic parlor,
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because he told me not to.
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Don't we all do that?
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♪♪
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Goldberg: For Priti Mahalanobis,
it's health problems
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that make her seek
out a psychic.
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In 2010, she's at
home in Florida,
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flipping through coupons, when
she stumbles across this flyer.
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There was this coupon
that appeared in there,
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and on the back, it says,
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"One visit with Mrs. Starr
will make you a believer.
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Remove all negative energy
and gain positive energy
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through all areas ‐‐ life,
love, finance, and health."
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So I thought, "You know what?
I've been to so many doctors,
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and they couldn't help me,
so what could it hurt to just,
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you know, try it out
and give her a call?
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It's only $20."
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Goldberg:
Our third woman is looking
to turn her whole life around
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when she sees a sign
that she takes to be...
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a sign.
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I remember seeing
the sign outside.
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It looked like an apartment,
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and I saw that it said
"$5 For a Psychic Reading."
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Goldberg: Out of concern
for her reputation,
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this woman wishes
to remain anonymous.
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We'll call her Ruth.
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I was at a very low point
in my life at that time,
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and I decided that,
what did I have to lose?
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Maybe if I just walked
up the stairs
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and found out something
about my future
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that might give me some hope,
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it would be certainly
worth the $5 reading.
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Goldberg:
Debra, Priti, and Ruth
only planned to spend
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a few dollars for
their first readings,
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but by the time it's all over,
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the amount of money they lay out
would shock anyone.
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Well, anyone but this guy.
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Nygaard: It's estimated
that the psychic industry
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brings in
over $2 billion a year,
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and that's "billion" with a "B."
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♪♪
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These self‐proclaimed psychics
have one of the best products
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in the world,
and it's called false hope.
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♪♪
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You know, everybody wants hope.
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I'm Bob Nygaard.
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I was a police officer
for 21 years.
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I'm a private investigator.
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Goldberg: And not just
any private investigator.
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For 10 years,
Bob's made a name for himself
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busting psychic frauds,
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and he's even got
the private eye hat
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to prove he's the real deal.
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The common denominator that
most of my clients share
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is that they're just
good‐hearted people.
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There's people out there willing
to prey on people like that,
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and that upsets me,
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but that also causes me to
have a lot of determination
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to track these
self‐proclaimed psychics down
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from coast to coast
and bring them to justice.
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Goldberg: Bob's seen firsthand
just how devastating it can be
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when someone takes advantage
of that vulnerability.
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Early in his career,
he got a call from a woman
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who'd lost her kids' entire
college fund to a shady psychic.
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And I said, "Don't worry.
You know, we'll build a case."
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So she said, "Bob,
you don't understand."
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And I said, "No, I do,"
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and she says, "No,
you don't understand.
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I'm on the 8th floor.
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I'm standing on the ledge,
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and I think I'm just gonna take
that one step and end it all."
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♪♪
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Goldberg: Luckily, Bob was able
to talk the woman off the ledge,
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but for a brief moment,
her life was in Bob's hands.
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And it bothers me to this day.
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♪♪
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I find it very rewarding
helping the underdog,
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people that are written off,
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and not only be a comfort
to that person,
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but also to help them
financially recover.
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If there's one thing
that I've learned
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from the 10 years that
I've been investigating
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these psychic fraud cases,
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it's that
anybody could be scammed
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if at a vulnerable moment
in their life.
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Goldberg:
And "vulnerable" is the perfect
word to describe Debra,
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who's just broken up
with her boyfriend
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and gone to a psychic parlor,
desperate for answers.
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"Zena," the psychic,
entered the room,
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and she was
extremely attractive ‐‐
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well‐dressed, beautiful makeup.
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She did not look
like a psychic to me.
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♪♪
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I answered her questions,
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and she felt
that from my aura vibe
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that there was multiple problems
going on at the same time.
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♪♪
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I was in such a state
of confusion
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and extremely vulnerable.
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Very few people understand
how easy it is
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for someone to be defrauded
when they're vulnerable,
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who are dealing
with something ‐‐ an issue
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involving love
or money or health,
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and so they don't know
where to turn,
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and they think, "Hey, if I reach
out to this anonymous person,
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this self‐proclaimed psychic,
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maybe they will give me the
answer that I'm looking for."
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Saalfield: The outcome of
that two‐hour meeting
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was that I had
an attachment‐to‐money problem,
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and this is why I've
had all these conflicts.
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She asked me to write
her a check for $27,000
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and that she would hold
it for 24 hours,
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and that would prove
that I could let go of money.
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Initially, I thought
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that was the most
ridiculous thing I'd ever heard.
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And then she went on
this tirade about,
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"Your money's safe with me.
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You can have it back
in 24 hours.
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I will give you your money back.
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You can trust me."
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So I handed this check
to her in person,
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saying, "Here's the check."
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Goldberg:
Yeah, Debra hands over $27,000
to a complete stranger.
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Saalfield:
And came back the next day.
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Everyone was missing.
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No one answered the door.
No one answered the phone.
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No contact.
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♪♪
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Goldberg:
Debra has just been conned
out of $27,000 by psychic Zena,
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and yet, her story
is just beginning.
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But let's catch up with Ruth,
who's hoping
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a visit to a psychic
will turn her life around.
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Nygaard: In April of 2016,
I received a call from a woman,
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and she told me that she had
been defrauded by a psychic,
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and it was someone that
was extremely vulnerable.
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This woman was one of
the most vulnerable people
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that I have helped
in the 10 years
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that I've been investigating
psychic fraud cases.
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♪♪
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Ruth:
The day that I met Zoe, I was
at a very low point in my life,
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and I thought I would
have some answers
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and perhaps make some progress
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into taking some positive
steps in my life.
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So, I decided to walk up
the stairs,
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[ Knock on door ]
and I knocked on the door,
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and a woman answered,
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and this was Zoe.
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♪♪
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Zoe said
that she could just tell
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that there was someone
very important
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coming to see her that day.
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And she invited me in.
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She was very empathetic.
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I found myself confiding in her.
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I had shared with her
that I had gone through
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a very acrimonious
and difficult divorce.
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My children had been
very damaged
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and were extremely
emotionally distraught
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over the breakup of my
family and my marriage.
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Goldberg: A broken marriage
and a traumatized family.
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You wouldn't think it
could get any worse,
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but for Ruth, it does.
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I had been in a
near‐fatal accident
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00:10:01,334 --> 00:10:06,572
that I had had
head and spinal cord injuries
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00:10:06,572 --> 00:10:08,941
and that it had been
many, many years
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that I had suffered
with physical pain.
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I felt that too many things
were going very badly astray,
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and I was losing
control of my life.
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And on that day
when I most needed a savior,
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I met Zoe.
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Goldberg:
Zoe tells Ruth she should
come back the next day
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so Zoe can pray for her.
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Ruth leaves feeling relieved.
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Edward:
People go to psychics because
it's the poor man's therapy.
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I started to watch
different psychics,
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00:10:42,208 --> 00:10:46,312
and I said, "This is baloney.
It's all acting."
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♪♪
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If you look at the really nasty
psychics that are out there,
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they are doing,
kind of, profiling.
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They're looking for
a weak point.
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Once they find that weak spot,
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00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,830
they will not let go of it
for love or money.
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00:11:04,830 --> 00:11:06,866
♪♪
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I was very curious to know
what would happen the next day,
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and I went back to Zoe's office.
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00:11:13,839 --> 00:11:15,741
Goldberg:
Zoe has some answers,
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00:11:15,741 --> 00:11:18,844
but not exactly the ones
Ruth is hoping for.
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She tells Ruth that her
family is suffering from
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00:11:22,214 --> 00:11:24,483
a multi‐generational curse ‐‐
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a curse that,
as luck would have it,
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only Zoe can break.
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She described that curse
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as having come down
my mother's line
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and that I was the one
uniquely gifted
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with the heart and the caring
to save them all.
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One of the things
that she needed to do
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was to cover me with
powerful protection,
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00:11:45,938 --> 00:11:50,142
and that protection
came in the form of gold.
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She had her daughter, Sarah,
go into another room
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and come back with
a very large gold chain
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and several gold coins,
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and she said
this would protect me
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00:12:01,387 --> 00:12:05,391
from any more evil
influence in my life.
247
00:12:05,391 --> 00:12:07,927
Goldberg: The price tag
on all that gold bling?
248
00:12:07,927 --> 00:12:10,663
A mere $18,000.
249
00:12:10,663 --> 00:12:14,300
And no, it isn't covered
by Ruth's health insurance.
250
00:12:14,300 --> 00:12:18,037
$18,000 was a lot of money,
and I thought to myself,
251
00:12:18,037 --> 00:12:23,809
"Well, maybe if I purchase this,
I will always have it,
252
00:12:23,809 --> 00:12:27,446
and what's the harm
in owning gold?
253
00:12:27,446 --> 00:12:30,116
Especially if it's going
to change my life."
254
00:12:30,116 --> 00:12:32,618
Goldberg:
Sounds reasonable ‐‐ kind of.
255
00:12:32,618 --> 00:12:34,620
Except there is a catch.
256
00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:37,723
Zoe says she has to keep
the gold at her church,
257
00:12:37,723 --> 00:12:39,725
or the magic won't work.
258
00:12:39,725 --> 00:12:42,261
I thought if I had been scammed,
259
00:12:42,261 --> 00:12:44,997
I would probably never
hear from Zoe again.
260
00:12:44,997 --> 00:12:47,800
And even though that was
somewhat of a fleeting thought,
261
00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,103
it was only momentary,
because Zoe told me
262
00:12:51,103 --> 00:12:55,641
that she was going to
be with me for life.
263
00:12:55,641 --> 00:12:59,411
Nygaard: Ruth was a person who
was very devoted to her family,
264
00:12:59,411 --> 00:13:01,580
and what happened was
that the psychic
265
00:13:01,580 --> 00:13:04,150
preyed upon Ruth's love
of her family.
266
00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:06,385
These are the things that
these self‐proclaimed psychics
267
00:13:06,385 --> 00:13:08,487
often do to emotionally
extort victims,
268
00:13:08,487 --> 00:13:10,723
and that's exactly
what happened to Ruth.
269
00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:12,992
Goldberg: Ruth thinks
her troubles are behind her,
270
00:13:12,992 --> 00:13:15,928
but then Zoe tells her
about the witches.
271
00:13:15,928 --> 00:13:17,463
Wait. The what?!
272
00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:18,497
Ruth: She said that the witches
who were surrounding my family
273
00:13:18,497 --> 00:13:21,167
were going to destroy us,
274
00:13:21,167 --> 00:13:24,770
that imminent danger
was going to come down on me
275
00:13:24,770 --> 00:13:29,475
unless I invested more money.
276
00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:31,510
Nygaard: In their mind,
the victim says,
277
00:13:31,510 --> 00:13:33,646
"But what if she
is telling the truth
278
00:13:33,646 --> 00:13:36,949
and I don't do
what she's asking me?
279
00:13:36,949 --> 00:13:39,418
I'll never be able
to forgive myself."
280
00:13:39,418 --> 00:13:42,221
♪♪
281
00:13:42,221 --> 00:13:44,290
Goldberg: Now, let's not
forget about Debra,
282
00:13:44,290 --> 00:13:48,694
who is instantly regretting
giving $27,000
283
00:13:48,694 --> 00:13:51,897
to her brand‐new
psychic friend Zena.
284
00:13:51,897 --> 00:13:55,935
As soon as I got home, I tried
to stop the funds from the bank,
285
00:13:55,935 --> 00:13:59,905
and they had already
been withdrawn.
286
00:13:59,905 --> 00:14:02,675
And it was just right there.
287
00:14:02,675 --> 00:14:05,277
It was like,
"What have you just done?
288
00:14:05,277 --> 00:14:07,413
You can't be serious."
289
00:14:07,413 --> 00:14:12,184
And those decisions that I made
have hurt a lot of people,
290
00:14:12,184 --> 00:14:16,455
especially my family,
and put me through a lot.
291
00:14:16,455 --> 00:14:19,191
But she was messing
with the wrong person.
292
00:14:19,191 --> 00:14:22,094
♪♪
293
00:14:22,094 --> 00:14:27,600
I kept calling Zena and asking
her to give me back my money,
294
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,103
and if she didn't give it back,
I would go to the police.
295
00:14:31,103 --> 00:14:33,539
Goldberg: Zena pays back
some of the money,
296
00:14:33,539 --> 00:14:36,775
but after a lot of bad checks
and broken promises,
297
00:14:36,775 --> 00:14:40,145
Debra is still out $17,000.
298
00:14:40,145 --> 00:14:43,515
Saalfield: You may have
embarrassed and humiliated me,
299
00:14:43,515 --> 00:14:45,818
but I'm a fighter,
300
00:14:45,818 --> 00:14:48,887
and I'm not gonna lose
that kind of money.
301
00:14:48,887 --> 00:14:51,523
♪♪
302
00:14:51,523 --> 00:14:56,495
I went to the local police
station and filed a report.
303
00:14:56,495 --> 00:14:58,564
I assumed ‐‐ wrongly ‐‐
304
00:14:58,564 --> 00:15:04,103
that I would be treated fairly
and that justice would prevail,
305
00:15:04,103 --> 00:15:06,405
and that did not happen.
306
00:15:06,405 --> 00:15:07,973
♪♪
307
00:15:07,973 --> 00:15:10,909
Goldberg: The officer refuses
to take Debra's report
308
00:15:10,909 --> 00:15:14,513
because her beef
is with a psychic.
309
00:15:14,513 --> 00:15:17,049
Nygaard: The average victim
walks into a police station
310
00:15:17,049 --> 00:15:19,184
and gets the complete runaround.
311
00:15:19,184 --> 00:15:21,920
They're told that because they
willingly gave their money
312
00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,389
to the self‐proclaimed psychic
313
00:15:23,389 --> 00:15:25,257
that no crime has
been committed,
314
00:15:25,257 --> 00:15:27,559
which ticks me off to no end,
315
00:15:27,559 --> 00:15:30,729
because the very definition
of a confidence scheme
316
00:15:30,729 --> 00:15:33,632
is to gain the confidence
and trust of a victim
317
00:15:33,632 --> 00:15:36,835
in order to get them to
willingly give the money over.
318
00:15:36,835 --> 00:15:40,139
This is not a victimless crime.
319
00:15:40,139 --> 00:15:43,108
Goldberg: If Debra's going
to fight back against Zena,
320
00:15:43,108 --> 00:15:46,378
she's gonna need help from
someone who knows the ropes ‐‐
321
00:15:46,378 --> 00:15:49,114
someone like Bob Nygaard.
322
00:15:49,114 --> 00:15:51,817
Nygaard: The classic scenario
when someone calls me,
323
00:15:51,817 --> 00:15:53,052
I said, "I'm not any psychic,
but I'll bet you went in
324
00:15:53,052 --> 00:15:55,421
and you paid a nominal fee ‐‐
something under $100 ‐‐
325
00:15:55,421 --> 00:15:57,022
and then the psychic told you
326
00:15:57,022 --> 00:15:59,892
that she could see a
darkness or a negativity ‐‐
327
00:15:59,892 --> 00:16:02,194
'So, what I need to do is
I need to work with
328
00:16:02,194 --> 00:16:04,830
crystals and candles,
but they're expensive.
329
00:16:04,830 --> 00:16:07,700
You just need to give me
this money temporarily,
330
00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:10,469
and I'm gonna take it
to my church, to the altar,
331
00:16:10,469 --> 00:16:12,671
and I'm gonna pray over
the money and cleanse it,
332
00:16:12,671 --> 00:16:14,606
because money is
the root of all evil,
333
00:16:14,606 --> 00:16:16,709
and then I'm gonna
give it back to you.'"
334
00:16:16,709 --> 00:16:18,944
And then I just hear silence
on the other end of the phone
335
00:16:18,944 --> 00:16:20,346
as I'm talking to the victim.
336
00:16:20,346 --> 00:16:22,147
[ Chuckles ]
Complete silence.
337
00:16:22,147 --> 00:16:24,383
♪♪
338
00:16:24,383 --> 00:16:27,286
When Debra called me up and said
that she met a woman
339
00:16:27,286 --> 00:16:29,421
who went by the name
of Psychic Zena,
340
00:16:29,421 --> 00:16:33,258
AKA Sylvia Mitchell, right away,
I said, "You know what?
341
00:16:33,258 --> 00:16:34,760
This is theft ‐‐
342
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,796
theft by false pretenses,
theft by false promise,
343
00:16:37,796 --> 00:16:40,299
theft by deception."
344
00:16:40,299 --> 00:16:43,836
Bob was on this case like...
345
00:16:43,836 --> 00:16:47,005
[ Chuckles ]
I can't describe how.
346
00:16:47,005 --> 00:16:53,212
He was intensely motivated to
catch this particular psychic.
347
00:16:53,212 --> 00:16:55,581
Nygaard: I wrote out a statement
of what occurred.
348
00:16:55,581 --> 00:16:58,350
I really detailed the facts
of the circumstances
349
00:16:58,350 --> 00:17:01,587
under which the money was given
and what she was told.
350
00:17:01,587 --> 00:17:03,622
Saalfield: He was moving
forward on the case,
351
00:17:03,622 --> 00:17:07,960
gathering information,
trying to cut through red tape
352
00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:13,365
and get the law enforcement
bureau to pay attention.
353
00:17:13,365 --> 00:17:17,035
Nygaard:
I brought it to the 6th Precinct
detective squad and the NYPD,
354
00:17:17,035 --> 00:17:18,270
and unlike Debra,
355
00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,773
who just called up
and couldn't get anywhere,
356
00:17:20,773 --> 00:17:24,009
I'm an ex‐cop, so I go in there
and say, "Hey, listen, guys,
357
00:17:24,009 --> 00:17:25,611
I need you to do this, you know?
358
00:17:25,611 --> 00:17:28,947
And I know it's a crime
because a theft is a theft."
359
00:17:28,947 --> 00:17:31,116
♪♪
360
00:17:31,116 --> 00:17:33,352
Goldberg: Karma catches up
with Psychic Zena,
361
00:17:33,352 --> 00:17:36,188
and she's arrested
for scheming to defraud
362
00:17:36,188 --> 00:17:38,624
and grand larceny.
363
00:17:38,624 --> 00:17:40,959
But the day of the trial
brings surprises
364
00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,796
that no one saw coming.
365
00:17:43,796 --> 00:17:45,931
♪♪
366
00:17:51,737 --> 00:17:55,207
Goldberg: The wheels of justice
are starting to turn for Debra.
367
00:17:55,207 --> 00:17:58,010
As for Ruth, she doesn't
even realize yet
368
00:17:58,010 --> 00:17:59,845
that she's being conned.
369
00:17:59,845 --> 00:18:02,181
And then, there's Priti.
370
00:18:02,181 --> 00:18:05,083
Nygaard: Priti Mahalanobis is
a very intelligent woman.
371
00:18:05,083 --> 00:18:07,553
I mean, she holds
a master's in economics.
372
00:18:07,553 --> 00:18:12,357
A lot of intelligent people are
defrauded in this type of scam.
373
00:18:12,357 --> 00:18:15,194
Goldberg:
Priti has a good home life,
a loving husband,
374
00:18:15,194 --> 00:18:18,797
and is even planning
to launch her own business.
375
00:18:18,797 --> 00:18:21,467
But she's suffering from
serious stomach problems
376
00:18:21,467 --> 00:18:23,535
that doctors
can't help her with.
377
00:18:23,535 --> 00:18:25,637
Then she finds a coupon
in the paper
378
00:18:25,637 --> 00:18:30,342
for a super cheap
psychic reading by a Mrs. Starr.
379
00:18:30,342 --> 00:18:33,645
Mahalanobis:
She was a young woman
in her late 20s, early 30s.
380
00:18:33,645 --> 00:18:35,547
She didn't look anything
out of the ordinary.
381
00:18:35,547 --> 00:18:37,583
She looked like a normal person.
382
00:18:37,583 --> 00:18:40,786
I went there with
a very open mind,
383
00:18:40,786 --> 00:18:43,822
'cause I was just
really desperate,
384
00:18:43,822 --> 00:18:45,390
you know, hoping for answers
385
00:18:45,390 --> 00:18:48,660
and just open to, like, "Okay,
you know, can you guide me?
386
00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:52,297
Can you lead me?
Can you help me?"
387
00:18:52,297 --> 00:18:55,968
Goldberg:
I'll give you three guesses
as to what happens next.
388
00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:59,805
Priti says Mrs. Starr, whose
real name is Peaches Stevens ‐‐
389
00:18:59,805 --> 00:19:01,540
yeah, that's her name ‐‐
390
00:19:01,540 --> 00:19:05,611
tells her that Priti's family
has an evil curse on it.
391
00:19:05,611 --> 00:19:08,213
Wait. Where have I heard
that one before?
392
00:19:08,213 --> 00:19:12,217
And that's the reason why it was
causing all these problems ‐‐
393
00:19:12,217 --> 00:19:14,553
not just for me,
but for the whole family ‐‐
394
00:19:14,553 --> 00:19:19,658
and that was behind my
digestive issues, as well.
395
00:19:19,658 --> 00:19:21,326
Goldberg: Priti says
that Peaches tells her
396
00:19:21,326 --> 00:19:23,395
to perform a ritual that night
397
00:19:23,395 --> 00:19:27,165
which involves putting money
and a list of family names
398
00:19:27,165 --> 00:19:28,333
in an envelope
399
00:19:28,333 --> 00:19:31,003
and then placing it
under her mattress.
400
00:19:31,003 --> 00:19:33,472
But that is not even
the crazy part.
401
00:19:33,472 --> 00:19:35,574
She also told me to
take a grapefruit
402
00:19:35,574 --> 00:19:36,542
and put it under the bed.
403
00:19:36,542 --> 00:19:38,377
Goldberg:
That's right ‐‐ a grapefruit.
404
00:19:38,377 --> 00:19:41,647
I guess a peach would've
been too on‐the‐nose.
405
00:19:41,647 --> 00:19:42,814
Anyway...
406
00:19:42,814 --> 00:19:45,918
The next day, Priti says
she visits Mrs. Starr,
407
00:19:45,918 --> 00:19:48,053
bringing the grapefruit
with her.
408
00:19:48,053 --> 00:19:50,122
Mahalanobis:
She took the grapefruit,
409
00:19:50,122 --> 00:19:53,625
she cut it
in the shape of a cross,
410
00:19:53,625 --> 00:19:57,062
and then she pried it open
411
00:19:57,062 --> 00:20:00,299
to reveal the center
inside the grapefruit
412
00:20:00,299 --> 00:20:06,204
was a very
horrific‐looking thing ‐‐
413
00:20:06,204 --> 00:20:08,173
something black.
414
00:20:08,173 --> 00:20:10,742
It looks like evil, basically.
415
00:20:10,742 --> 00:20:13,245
It looks like
something really horrible.
416
00:20:13,245 --> 00:20:16,181
Her reaction to it,
actually, was like,
417
00:20:16,181 --> 00:20:18,650
"[Gasps] Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!"
418
00:20:18,650 --> 00:20:22,054
She was ‐‐
She was, like, horrified.
419
00:20:22,054 --> 00:20:23,622
She goes, "That was the evil
420
00:20:23,622 --> 00:20:26,558
that had made a home
in your body,
421
00:20:26,558 --> 00:20:28,961
and it got attracted to
the money in the envelope
422
00:20:28,961 --> 00:20:30,262
under your mattress,
423
00:20:30,262 --> 00:20:33,098
and it got caught
into the grapefruit."
424
00:20:33,098 --> 00:20:35,133
I was really scared,
and I couldn't believe
425
00:20:35,133 --> 00:20:38,203
that that had
come out of my body.
426
00:20:38,203 --> 00:20:39,371
It strengthened my belief
427
00:20:39,371 --> 00:20:41,673
that what she was
telling me was true.
428
00:20:41,673 --> 00:20:43,742
♪♪
429
00:20:43,742 --> 00:20:48,380
The grapefruit trick, okay,
is very well‐known to magicians.
430
00:20:48,380 --> 00:20:50,415
It is not very hard
431
00:20:50,415 --> 00:20:54,019
to get something into
the center of a grapefruit
432
00:20:54,019 --> 00:20:56,588
if you know how to do it.
433
00:20:56,588 --> 00:21:00,025
Goldberg:
Yeah, pretty easy, as you can
see in this YouTube video
434
00:21:00,025 --> 00:21:02,327
showing how to put a card
into an orange ‐‐
435
00:21:02,327 --> 00:21:04,229
if that's your thing.
436
00:21:04,229 --> 00:21:07,366
They probably got
the hairball from their cat.
437
00:21:07,366 --> 00:21:09,301
People like that save
stuff like that
438
00:21:09,301 --> 00:21:11,236
for just the right moment.
439
00:21:11,236 --> 00:21:14,506
That's just so wrong, you know?
I mean...[ Chuckles ]
440
00:21:14,506 --> 00:21:16,675
Goldberg:
But as far as Priti knows,
441
00:21:16,675 --> 00:21:20,245
all that evil has to be
dealt with right away,
442
00:21:20,245 --> 00:21:22,814
or Priti, her family,
and their Quiznos
443
00:21:22,814 --> 00:21:24,916
would be in mortal danger.
444
00:21:24,916 --> 00:21:27,853
Priti says Peaches has a fix.
445
00:21:27,853 --> 00:21:31,089
All she has to do is
buy a golden tabernacle.
446
00:21:31,089 --> 00:21:35,193
And come on ‐‐ how much could
one of those possibly cost?
447
00:21:35,193 --> 00:21:41,133
Because it's made out of gold,
it's going to cost $19,000.
448
00:21:41,133 --> 00:21:42,334
Yeah.
449
00:21:42,334 --> 00:21:46,138
And so at that point,
I was like, "Oh, my God."
450
00:21:46,138 --> 00:21:50,776
Like, where am I
gonna come up with $19,000?
451
00:21:50,776 --> 00:21:54,846
Goldberg: That $19,000
quickly turns into $50,000 ‐‐
452
00:21:54,846 --> 00:21:57,149
money Priti does not have.
453
00:21:57,149 --> 00:22:00,485
So she gives Peaches
all of her family jewelry ‐‐
454
00:22:00,485 --> 00:22:02,387
$65,000 worth.
455
00:22:02,387 --> 00:22:05,357
But hey, at least Priti
can tell her family
456
00:22:05,357 --> 00:22:09,895
that she saved them
from a diabolical curse...right?
457
00:22:09,895 --> 00:22:13,899
Mahalanobis:
She told me that in order
for her work to be effective,
458
00:22:13,899 --> 00:22:20,338
it was extremely important
that I not tell anybody,
459
00:22:20,338 --> 00:22:24,242
that I had to keep it
just between me and her.
460
00:22:24,242 --> 00:22:25,877
As soon as a psychic
says to you,
461
00:22:25,877 --> 00:22:28,213
"You can't talk about
the work with anybody,"
462
00:22:28,213 --> 00:22:30,882
it's time to run in
the opposite direction.
463
00:22:30,882 --> 00:22:32,651
Goldberg:
But Priti is not running.
464
00:22:32,651 --> 00:22:36,855
In fact, she tries to come up
with more money for her psychic.
465
00:22:36,855 --> 00:22:37,989
♪♪
466
00:22:37,989 --> 00:22:40,759
Debra is realizing that
getting revenge on hers
467
00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:42,794
is going to involve a trial
468
00:22:42,794 --> 00:22:46,531
that will reveal to the world
just how gullible she's been.
469
00:22:46,531 --> 00:22:49,000
Debra Saalfield's case
against Sylvia Mitchell,
470
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:50,335
it actually went to trial.
471
00:22:50,335 --> 00:22:52,471
It was a very rare occurrence.
472
00:22:52,471 --> 00:22:54,840
Goldberg: Usually,
cases like Sylvia Mitchell's
473
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,042
get pled out before
going to court,
474
00:22:57,042 --> 00:22:59,644
but Zena decides
to take her chances.
475
00:22:59,644 --> 00:23:01,747
A trial, it will be.
476
00:23:01,747 --> 00:23:06,151
I had no clue how
important this trial was.
477
00:23:06,151 --> 00:23:09,588
To me, it was just
a little crime case
478
00:23:09,588 --> 00:23:14,192
and it didn't have any
significance in the legal world.
479
00:23:14,192 --> 00:23:17,095
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
But I was very wrong.
480
00:23:17,095 --> 00:23:19,431
♪♪
481
00:23:22,968 --> 00:23:25,303
Goldberg: Debra, the victim
of a psychic scam artist,
482
00:23:25,303 --> 00:23:27,906
is about to have
her day in court.
483
00:23:27,906 --> 00:23:32,410
Priti has shelled out
over $60,000 to her psychic.
484
00:23:32,410 --> 00:23:35,213
But the next twist
in Ruth's psychic saga
485
00:23:35,213 --> 00:23:38,383
is gonna make that
look like chump change.
486
00:23:38,383 --> 00:23:41,253
Ruth has already dropped $18,000
487
00:23:41,253 --> 00:23:43,555
on curse‐breaking
golden amulets,
488
00:23:43,555 --> 00:23:48,193
but apparently, 18 grand
does not buy what it used to.
489
00:23:48,193 --> 00:23:52,731
Zoe told me that imminent danger
was going to come down on me
490
00:23:52,731 --> 00:23:56,101
unless I invested more money.
491
00:23:56,101 --> 00:23:58,570
♪♪
492
00:23:58,570 --> 00:23:59,738
By this time,
493
00:23:59,738 --> 00:24:04,376
I was completely taken in
by her prognostications,
494
00:24:04,376 --> 00:24:05,710
and so I did it.
495
00:24:05,710 --> 00:24:07,512
♪♪
496
00:24:07,512 --> 00:24:10,515
Every time I stood
in front of the teller,
497
00:24:10,515 --> 00:24:14,352
I felt like I was
going to faint with stress.
498
00:24:14,352 --> 00:24:19,825
I felt absolutely sick
with what I was doing.
499
00:24:19,825 --> 00:24:25,230
I think it was $505,000
that was now invested.
500
00:24:25,230 --> 00:24:29,668
But the other side of me
just wanted to save my family,
501
00:24:29,668 --> 00:24:31,369
and I would have done anything.
502
00:24:31,369 --> 00:24:33,972
Money didn't mean
anything compared to that.
503
00:24:33,972 --> 00:24:37,008
Goldberg: Then, just when
things are at their worst,
504
00:24:37,008 --> 00:24:39,978
Ruth's life suddenly
starts to get better.
505
00:24:39,978 --> 00:24:43,815
Are Zoe's psychic powers
legit after all?
506
00:24:43,815 --> 00:24:46,818
Ruth: Things turned around
for me very suddenly.
507
00:24:46,818 --> 00:24:49,721
I had a breakthrough
in my divorce settlement.
508
00:24:49,721 --> 00:24:51,690
I saw this as a fresh start,
509
00:24:51,690 --> 00:24:54,893
an opportunity that
could change my life.
510
00:24:54,893 --> 00:24:58,964
And then Zoe said that
without powerful protection,
511
00:24:58,964 --> 00:25:01,199
all of it would fall apart.
512
00:25:01,199 --> 00:25:04,502
She said that this
would cost $160,000.
513
00:25:04,502 --> 00:25:06,838
[ Sighs ]
514
00:25:06,838 --> 00:25:09,007
Goldberg:
"[ Sighs ]" is right.
515
00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:10,609
But Ruth pays up,
516
00:25:10,609 --> 00:25:14,512
and she says she's now given Zoe
a staggering grand total
517
00:25:14,512 --> 00:25:17,616
of $741,000.
518
00:25:17,616 --> 00:25:19,517
♪♪
519
00:25:19,517 --> 00:25:23,388
Well, at least Zoe's promises
are finally paying off.
520
00:25:23,388 --> 00:25:25,690
That is, until they're not.
521
00:25:25,690 --> 00:25:28,727
Ruth: My divorce lawyer left
the practice of family law
522
00:25:28,727 --> 00:25:30,395
and abandoned my case,
523
00:25:30,395 --> 00:25:33,198
and life for me
was worse than ever.
524
00:25:33,198 --> 00:25:36,701
I was furious because I'd
invested so much money
525
00:25:36,701 --> 00:25:38,169
to ensure that the divorce
came out right
526
00:25:38,169 --> 00:25:40,071
and that my family
would be made whole,
527
00:25:40,071 --> 00:25:43,074
and basically, everything
that she ever promised me
528
00:25:43,074 --> 00:25:44,509
went up in smoke.
529
00:25:44,509 --> 00:25:47,012
Goldberg:
Ruth is devastated, but finally,
530
00:25:47,012 --> 00:25:52,651
after all this time and money,
Zoe's spell over her is broken.
531
00:25:52,651 --> 00:25:55,287
Furious and ashamed, she's ready
532
00:25:55,287 --> 00:25:58,790
to get some good,
old‐fashioned revenge.
533
00:25:58,790 --> 00:26:00,492
I took some action,
534
00:26:00,492 --> 00:26:03,662
and what I did
was I found Bob Nygaard.
535
00:26:03,662 --> 00:26:05,664
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
536
00:26:05,664 --> 00:26:07,899
When Ruth called me, I just felt
537
00:26:07,899 --> 00:26:10,335
that she was in
such a low place.
538
00:26:10,335 --> 00:26:13,571
As far as cases go, it was
one of my most challenging,
539
00:26:13,571 --> 00:26:16,741
in terms of helping a victim
who had hit rock bottom.
540
00:26:16,741 --> 00:26:22,180
I thought I would be met
with derision and eye‐rolling.
541
00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:24,215
Bob never did that.
542
00:26:24,215 --> 00:26:26,351
He told me the truth ‐‐
543
00:26:26,351 --> 00:26:28,253
Zoe was a criminal.
544
00:26:28,253 --> 00:26:32,424
♪♪
545
00:26:32,424 --> 00:26:35,260
Goldberg: Priti now says
her psychic, Peaches,
546
00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:37,595
is demanding even more cash,
547
00:26:37,595 --> 00:26:41,333
and the price for lifting
her family's curse now?
548
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:45,003
Seven golden tabernacles.
549
00:26:45,003 --> 00:26:47,105
Mahalanobis:
Seven lifetimes ago,
550
00:26:47,105 --> 00:26:51,343
I got involved in all
these bad, evil things.
551
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:56,581
So for seven lifetimes,
seven tabernacles.
552
00:26:56,581 --> 00:26:58,583
Each one was $19,000.
553
00:26:58,583 --> 00:27:01,119
[ Chuckles ]
Right? So do the math.
554
00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,723
That was like
130‐some thousand dollars
555
00:27:04,723 --> 00:27:08,793
So it was just like
[Sighs] gosh.
556
00:27:08,793 --> 00:27:14,099
It basically bled
my business account dry.
557
00:27:14,099 --> 00:27:15,533
What she did tell me is that
558
00:27:15,533 --> 00:27:19,671
if I told anyone about the work
that she was doing
559
00:27:19,671 --> 00:27:24,943
that the evil would escape,
and then at that point,
560
00:27:24,943 --> 00:27:29,080
there was nothing that
she could do to help me.
561
00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,950
Nygaard:
Priti was just trying to help
herself and help her family.
562
00:27:31,950 --> 00:27:34,452
You know, it was
very devastating for her.
563
00:27:34,452 --> 00:27:38,456
Goldberg:
Priti has started putting her
payments to Peaches on plastic,
564
00:27:38,456 --> 00:27:40,392
making them impossible to hide.
565
00:27:40,392 --> 00:27:45,463
Mahalanobis:
My husband had actually found
the credit card statement,
566
00:27:45,463 --> 00:27:47,832
and so he questioned
me about that,
567
00:27:47,832 --> 00:27:50,769
like, "What is this?
What is this charge for?"
568
00:27:50,769 --> 00:27:53,905
I was just getting
caught deeper and deeper
569
00:27:53,905 --> 00:27:57,509
in this web of lies that
Peaches was having me create,
570
00:27:57,509 --> 00:28:01,980
and it just felt
so unnatural to me
571
00:28:01,980 --> 00:28:04,149
to cover all this up.
572
00:28:04,149 --> 00:28:06,584
♪♪
573
00:28:06,584 --> 00:28:08,453
I couldn't sleep at night.
574
00:28:08,453 --> 00:28:11,923
I was constantly anxious.
575
00:28:11,923 --> 00:28:13,625
My husband, in particular,
576
00:28:13,625 --> 00:28:16,761
knew that something
was very, very wrong.
577
00:28:16,761 --> 00:28:19,631
He just kept trying
to get me to tell him,
and I wouldn't tell him,
578
00:28:19,631 --> 00:28:21,566
because I was so afraid
of that evil coming out.
579
00:28:21,566 --> 00:28:25,136
Having to lie to him was
the most difficult thing.
580
00:28:25,136 --> 00:28:28,306
It really tore me apart.
581
00:28:28,306 --> 00:28:32,177
Goldberg: After nine months of
escalating payments to Peaches,
582
00:28:32,177 --> 00:28:34,913
Priti's sub shop goes under.
583
00:28:34,913 --> 00:28:36,981
Mahalanobis:
Once I closed the Quiznos,
584
00:28:36,981 --> 00:28:40,585
I had hit rock bottom
at that point.
585
00:28:40,585 --> 00:28:44,089
Over the course
of that nine months,
586
00:28:44,089 --> 00:28:47,192
between the value of
my jewelry at that time
587
00:28:47,192 --> 00:28:50,762
and all the other gifts
and money that I gave her,
588
00:28:50,762 --> 00:28:55,500
it was close to $136,000.
589
00:28:55,500 --> 00:29:00,371
And that does not include
the loss of my Quiznos business.
590
00:29:00,371 --> 00:29:02,440
Goldberg:
Feeling terrified and alone,
591
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,111
Priti decides to open up
to her husband, Abhijit.
592
00:29:06,111 --> 00:29:10,715
Finally being able to tell
him was very liberating.
593
00:29:10,715 --> 00:29:13,318
And when he found out
what was going on,
594
00:29:13,318 --> 00:29:18,890
he was actually very relieved
to finally know the truth.
595
00:29:18,890 --> 00:29:21,793
That's when I realized,
596
00:29:21,793 --> 00:29:26,131
you know, to the extent
that I had been conned.
597
00:29:26,131 --> 00:29:27,665
Goldberg:
With her family behind her,
598
00:29:27,665 --> 00:29:30,668
Priti's finally
ready to fight back.
599
00:29:30,668 --> 00:29:33,571
I was after justice.
I wanted to stop her.
600
00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:37,942
I didn't want anyone else to
go through what I went through.
601
00:29:37,942 --> 00:29:41,246
Goldberg: And a certain P.I. is
about to step into the fight.
602
00:29:41,246 --> 00:29:42,881
♪♪
603
00:29:46,951 --> 00:29:49,888
Goldberg:
After years of financial
and emotional devastation
604
00:29:49,888 --> 00:29:51,723
at the hands of their psychics,
605
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:56,427
Debra, Priti, and Ruth
are all seeking justice.
606
00:29:56,427 --> 00:29:59,531
Debra's case against
the cunning clairvoyant Zena
607
00:29:59,531 --> 00:30:01,666
is about to go to trial.
608
00:30:01,666 --> 00:30:05,970
It was such a high‐profile case
with a Manhattan psychic,
609
00:30:05,970 --> 00:30:08,006
you know, ripping
this woman off.
610
00:30:08,006 --> 00:30:10,775
All the media in New York
was all over the case.
611
00:30:10,775 --> 00:30:12,443
[ Camera shutters click ]
612
00:30:12,443 --> 00:30:15,847
Goldberg:
Sylvia's attorney offers Debra
a settlement agreement,
613
00:30:15,847 --> 00:30:17,882
but Debra has other plans.
614
00:30:17,882 --> 00:30:20,084
I wasn't gonna take any money.
615
00:30:20,084 --> 00:30:23,388
That was not the way
this was gonna work.
616
00:30:23,388 --> 00:30:26,824
I would have let myself down for
taking money and not testifying
617
00:30:26,824 --> 00:30:31,229
and preventing others
from being taken by her.
618
00:30:31,229 --> 00:30:33,631
Nygaard:
Debra got full restitution,
619
00:30:33,631 --> 00:30:36,267
and Sylvia got sentenced
to 5 to 15 years
620
00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:39,237
in New York State Prison.
621
00:30:39,237 --> 00:30:42,006
So that was a huge
sentence at that time
622
00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:43,942
for a self‐proclaimed psychic.
623
00:30:43,942 --> 00:30:46,377
Goldberg: Sylvia, AKA Zena,
624
00:30:46,377 --> 00:30:49,581
is going to the big house
for multiple counts of fraud,
625
00:30:49,581 --> 00:30:52,350
including the cons
she pulled on Debra.
626
00:30:52,350 --> 00:30:54,285
Saalfield:
She needed to be stopped,
627
00:30:54,285 --> 00:30:56,521
and the business
needs to be stopped,
628
00:30:56,521 --> 00:30:58,890
although it's far
from being stopped.
629
00:30:58,890 --> 00:31:01,125
♪♪
630
00:31:01,125 --> 00:31:04,529
Goldberg:
Priti finally tells her family
that her psychic, Peaches,
631
00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:08,633
has conned her out of $135,000,
632
00:31:08,633 --> 00:31:11,402
and now she wants
Peaches to pay.
633
00:31:11,402 --> 00:31:15,306
My husband found Bob Nygaard,
and we contacted him,
634
00:31:15,306 --> 00:31:17,609
and he agreed
to take on our case.
635
00:31:17,609 --> 00:31:19,944
In fact,
he was very compassionate
636
00:31:19,944 --> 00:31:21,479
and very understanding.
637
00:31:21,479 --> 00:31:25,049
♪♪
638
00:31:25,049 --> 00:31:27,552
Priti came to me,
and I, you know, say,
639
00:31:27,552 --> 00:31:29,854
Hey, when Mrs. Starr
told you this, you know,
640
00:31:29,854 --> 00:31:31,789
what were you
supposed to get for it?
641
00:31:31,789 --> 00:31:34,025
Did she take the money and say
she was gonna give it back?
642
00:31:34,025 --> 00:31:36,461
Did she ever say she was gonna
give the jewelry back?"
643
00:31:36,461 --> 00:31:39,964
You know, I pick apart
the provable lies.
644
00:31:39,964 --> 00:31:43,635
Goldberg:
Priti and Bob piece together
all the financial transactions
645
00:31:43,635 --> 00:31:45,503
between her and Peaches.
646
00:31:45,503 --> 00:31:48,206
They bring their case
to the state attorney.
647
00:31:48,206 --> 00:31:50,675
They sit back
and wait for an arrest.
648
00:31:50,675 --> 00:31:53,411
And then...they wait some more.
649
00:31:53,411 --> 00:31:55,480
Nygaard: The case sat there
for eight months.
650
00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,050
Here she was ‐‐
she was out $135,000‐plus,
651
00:31:59,050 --> 00:32:02,320
and she was getting no movement
on her case at all.
652
00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,589
It seemed so unfair
that someone could
653
00:32:04,589 --> 00:32:07,792
just so openly do this to people
and get away with it
654
00:32:07,792 --> 00:32:10,361
and police
weren't helping people.
655
00:32:10,361 --> 00:32:12,463
Goldberg: Since the police
are dragging their feet,
656
00:32:12,463 --> 00:32:15,800
Bob is forced to resort
to his secret weapon.
657
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,304
When I hit a roadblock and
the police or the prosecutors
658
00:32:19,304 --> 00:32:21,005
don't want to do their job,
659
00:32:21,005 --> 00:32:24,275
then I often go to the media
and expose that injustice.
660
00:32:24,275 --> 00:32:26,077
[ Applause ]
661
00:32:26,077 --> 00:32:27,645
Priti went on
the Anderson Cooper
662
00:32:27,645 --> 00:32:29,247
daytime talk show.
663
00:32:29,247 --> 00:32:34,319
She excoriated,
in really explicit terms,
664
00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:36,154
the Orlando
state attorney's office.
665
00:32:36,154 --> 00:32:37,288
They have done
absolutely nothing.
666
00:32:37,288 --> 00:32:38,356
Nothing.
667
00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:39,590
And you feel
the authorities
668
00:32:39,590 --> 00:32:40,892
don't take this
seriously enough?
669
00:32:40,892 --> 00:32:42,093
No, not at all,
and in fact,
670
00:32:42,093 --> 00:32:44,896
they don't respond
to e‐mails or phone calls.
671
00:32:44,896 --> 00:32:47,365
I even went there in person,
672
00:32:47,365 --> 00:32:50,034
and they just simply
don't care.
673
00:32:50,034 --> 00:32:51,569
You know,
the media has the power
674
00:32:51,569 --> 00:32:52,670
of being a great equalizer.
675
00:32:52,670 --> 00:32:54,572
When some prosecutor
or some cop sees,
676
00:32:54,572 --> 00:32:57,141
detective sees their name
in the paper, you know,
677
00:32:57,141 --> 00:32:59,143
and they're named by person
for not doing their job,
678
00:32:59,143 --> 00:33:01,646
you see how quick
their attitude changes.
679
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:04,349
And sure enough,
within less than a month,
680
00:33:04,349 --> 00:33:07,085
the Orlando‐Osceola
State Attorney's office
681
00:33:07,085 --> 00:33:09,387
notified Priti that they
would be filing charges
682
00:33:09,387 --> 00:33:11,122
against Peaches Stevens.
683
00:33:11,122 --> 00:33:15,860
Goldberg:
Peaches, AKA Mrs. Starr, is
finally arrested for fraud.
684
00:33:15,860 --> 00:33:17,995
But there's one
tiny, little problem ‐‐
685
00:33:17,995 --> 00:33:20,398
she is willing to pay
the money back
686
00:33:20,398 --> 00:33:24,302
but insists on
maintaining her innocence.
687
00:33:24,302 --> 00:33:28,172
I want that Peaches
at least admit
688
00:33:28,172 --> 00:33:30,174
that yeah,
she did all these things,
689
00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:32,243
that she was guilty,
that she actually did it.
690
00:33:32,243 --> 00:33:36,414
♪♪
691
00:33:36,414 --> 00:33:38,883
Ruth: You know that you've
been a victim of someone
692
00:33:38,883 --> 00:33:42,653
who has preyed on you
and you've fallen for it.
693
00:33:42,653 --> 00:33:44,822
I didn't feel like I
could ever tell anyone.
694
00:33:44,822 --> 00:33:46,190
Who would believe me?
695
00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:48,459
♪♪
696
00:33:48,459 --> 00:33:50,328
Nygaard: When Ruth called me,
697
00:33:50,328 --> 00:33:52,630
I just felt that she was
in such a low place.
698
00:33:52,630 --> 00:33:55,967
She endured emotional extortion,
699
00:33:55,967 --> 00:33:59,771
and she was financially
decimated and emotionally abused
700
00:33:59,771 --> 00:34:04,475
for four years and nine months
by a self‐proclaimed psychic.
701
00:34:04,475 --> 00:34:07,345
He helped me to understand
what had happened to me
702
00:34:07,345 --> 00:34:10,114
and what it was
that could be done
703
00:34:10,114 --> 00:34:13,751
to bring this criminal
to justice.
704
00:34:13,751 --> 00:34:15,720
♪♪
705
00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:17,722
Nygaard: A lot of times,
I will tell a victim,
706
00:34:17,722 --> 00:34:19,424
"Cut off all contact
with the psychic
707
00:34:19,424 --> 00:34:20,958
from the moment you call me,"
708
00:34:20,958 --> 00:34:22,994
'cause I don't want to
leave it up to a chance
709
00:34:22,994 --> 00:34:25,296
that the psychic could
weasel their way back in,
710
00:34:25,296 --> 00:34:27,698
emotionally, into
the victim's life.
711
00:34:27,698 --> 00:34:29,500
In this particular case,
with Ruth,
712
00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:33,004
I felt there was a great benefit
to gathering more evidence.
713
00:34:33,004 --> 00:34:37,208
I was a little bit nervous.
714
00:34:37,208 --> 00:34:41,078
Goldberg:
And you can't really blame her,
because for Bob's plan to work,
715
00:34:41,078 --> 00:34:44,582
Ruth is going to have
to go undercover.
716
00:34:44,582 --> 00:34:47,685
Ruth and I had
a lot of discussion
717
00:34:47,685 --> 00:34:50,121
on whether Ruth
was strong enough.
718
00:34:50,121 --> 00:34:52,390
You know, she had a lot of
strength, and she said to me,
719
00:34:52,390 --> 00:34:54,892
"Hey, Bob, if this is what's
best for the case,
720
00:34:54,892 --> 00:34:56,360
you know, I can do this."
721
00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,896
Ruth: And from that moment on,
I took control of my life,
722
00:34:58,896 --> 00:35:00,298
and I fought back.
723
00:35:00,298 --> 00:35:09,774
♪♪
724
00:35:09,774 --> 00:35:11,809
♪♪
725
00:35:16,781 --> 00:35:19,116
Goldberg: Debra and Priti have
brought their pseudo‐psychics
726
00:35:19,116 --> 00:35:20,251
before the law,
727
00:35:20,251 --> 00:35:23,287
but Ruth's con artist
is still out there
728
00:35:23,287 --> 00:35:25,756
and up to her old tricks.
729
00:35:25,756 --> 00:35:28,493
Luckily, Bob has
a plan to stop her,
730
00:35:28,493 --> 00:35:31,929
but it will put Ruth's
acting chops to the test.
731
00:35:31,929 --> 00:35:36,400
When Bob and I started working
together, we had to record Zoe,
732
00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:39,403
and I had to pretend
that I hadn't hired Bob.
733
00:35:39,403 --> 00:35:57,622
♪♪
734
00:35:57,622 --> 00:35:59,090
During those conversations,
735
00:35:59,090 --> 00:36:03,961
you can really see
the differences in demeanor
736
00:36:03,961 --> 00:36:09,166
that she used when
trying to defraud Ruth.
737
00:36:09,166 --> 00:36:12,537
You could hear her, you know,
trying to get more.
738
00:36:12,537 --> 00:36:33,691
♪♪
739
00:36:33,691 --> 00:36:36,761
We gathered so many
phone conversations,
740
00:36:36,761 --> 00:36:39,030
and we gathered
a lot of evidence.
741
00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:40,831
Goldberg: But Bob wants more.
742
00:36:40,831 --> 00:36:43,401
He wants Zoe on video.
743
00:36:43,401 --> 00:36:46,771
So he sends in an associate
with a hidden camera.
744
00:36:46,771 --> 00:36:50,107
Nygaard: I then sent someone in,
and we got undercover footage,
745
00:36:50,107 --> 00:36:51,609
you know, in the act.
746
00:36:51,609 --> 00:37:06,958
♪♪
747
00:37:06,958 --> 00:37:12,229
Edward: Zoe had
a very aggressive style.
748
00:37:12,229 --> 00:37:15,399
From the get‐go,
she made it seem like
749
00:37:15,399 --> 00:37:17,501
it was almost
a life‐or‐death thing.
750
00:37:17,501 --> 00:37:31,716
♪♪
751
00:37:31,716 --> 00:37:34,352
They will exaggerate
something that they see
752
00:37:34,352 --> 00:37:36,020
in that person's personality.
753
00:37:36,020 --> 00:37:47,431
♪♪
754
00:37:47,431 --> 00:37:51,535
She wants to make sure that
she has a very good living
755
00:37:51,535 --> 00:37:54,005
for as long as she can
keep you on the hook.
756
00:37:54,005 --> 00:38:08,552
♪♪
757
00:38:08,552 --> 00:38:11,188
And the main thing is
the money, you know?
758
00:38:11,188 --> 00:38:14,358
She'll do a special discount
until tomorrow,
759
00:38:14,358 --> 00:38:16,027
and then the price goes up.
760
00:38:16,027 --> 00:38:20,898
♪♪
761
00:38:20,898 --> 00:38:23,834
Just very manipulative.
762
00:38:23,834 --> 00:38:25,536
♪♪
763
00:38:25,536 --> 00:38:27,571
Goldberg: Finally, Ruth and Bob
have collected
764
00:38:27,571 --> 00:38:30,641
enough rock‐solid evidence
against Zoe
765
00:38:30,641 --> 00:38:33,044
to take it to the NYPD.
766
00:38:33,044 --> 00:38:36,547
I was able to avoid the problem
of having to go to a precinct
767
00:38:36,547 --> 00:38:39,684
and getting the door
slammed in my face, you know,
768
00:38:39,684 --> 00:38:43,154
and having to fight and use
the media and everything else.
769
00:38:43,154 --> 00:38:45,856
Goldberg: Psychic Zoe,
AKA Ann Thompson,
770
00:38:45,856 --> 00:38:48,092
is arrested and charged
with crimes,
771
00:38:48,092 --> 00:38:50,094
including fraud,
grand larceny, and forgery.
772
00:38:50,094 --> 00:38:52,063
From the look on her face,
773
00:38:52,063 --> 00:38:55,066
this so‐called psychic
didn't see that one coming.
774
00:38:55,066 --> 00:38:59,070
When she was arrested,
Bob and I were just elated.
775
00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:02,139
He phoned me and told me,
and this was the first step
776
00:39:02,139 --> 00:39:06,277
in finally getting
toward the end.
777
00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,946
♪♪
778
00:39:08,946 --> 00:39:11,782
Goldberg: The case balloons
to over a dozen victims,
779
00:39:11,782 --> 00:39:16,454
two other psychics, and over
a million dollars in damages.
780
00:39:16,454 --> 00:39:21,425
Zoe pleads guilty to the charges
and agrees to pay back $200,000,
781
00:39:21,425 --> 00:39:24,995
but as of today, she still
hasn't been sentenced
782
00:39:24,995 --> 00:39:30,167
and has only paid Ruth back
a fraction of her money.
783
00:39:30,167 --> 00:39:32,169
♪♪
784
00:39:32,169 --> 00:39:34,905
Priti is relieved that
her psychic, Peaches,
785
00:39:34,905 --> 00:39:37,475
has finally been
arrested for fraud,
786
00:39:37,475 --> 00:39:39,543
but Peaches cuts a plea deal
787
00:39:39,543 --> 00:39:42,079
where she continues
denying wrongdoing,
788
00:39:42,079 --> 00:39:46,650
and the charges are dropped in
exchange for paying Priti back.
789
00:39:46,650 --> 00:39:48,252
Now, Priti isn't thrilled,
790
00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:51,021
but she decides to look
on the bright side.
791
00:39:51,021 --> 00:39:53,457
I feel like everything
we go through in life
792
00:39:53,457 --> 00:39:57,461
is to help ourselves
to learn and grow.
793
00:39:57,461 --> 00:40:00,698
I no longer believe in curses.
794
00:40:00,698 --> 00:40:04,168
Also, it teaches me to
listen to your gut,
795
00:40:04,168 --> 00:40:06,036
to the voice of your soul,
796
00:40:06,036 --> 00:40:09,974
and not to, you know,
be tricked by your mind,
797
00:40:09,974 --> 00:40:11,041
that can play a lot of games
and trick you.
798
00:40:11,041 --> 00:40:14,211
Goldberg: But Ruth's
long battle isn't over.
799
00:40:14,211 --> 00:40:16,580
She's still waiting for justice.
800
00:40:16,580 --> 00:40:18,415
Ruth: She took my freedom.
801
00:40:18,415 --> 00:40:22,186
And she took it
802
00:40:22,186 --> 00:40:27,491
in an abusive, nefarious,
purposeful way.
803
00:40:27,491 --> 00:40:29,727
I must be made whole.
804
00:40:29,727 --> 00:40:32,630
I want all my money back,
because it belongs to me.
805
00:40:32,630 --> 00:40:34,732
♪♪
806
00:40:34,732 --> 00:40:38,202
If a situation occurs
in your life
807
00:40:38,202 --> 00:40:41,305
where you're challenged
by the law
808
00:40:41,305 --> 00:40:46,343
and by someone who is
doing wrong in every way,
809
00:40:46,343 --> 00:40:52,449
you can keep going and find
a way to have justice served.
810
00:40:52,449 --> 00:40:56,187
Nygaard: For every one Debra
or one Priti or one Ruth,
811
00:40:56,187 --> 00:41:00,858
there's 50 more people that were
too scared to come forward.
812
00:41:00,858 --> 00:41:03,661
It takes a lot of gumption
and a lot of fortitude
813
00:41:03,661 --> 00:41:05,062
for someone to come forward
814
00:41:05,062 --> 00:41:07,832
and admit that they're the
victim of a confidence scheme.
815
00:41:07,832 --> 00:41:10,668
I mean, I give them
so much credit.
816
00:41:10,668 --> 00:41:13,938
I admire them.
I admire them for their courage.
817
00:41:13,938 --> 00:41:16,941
‐‐ Captions by VITAC ‐‐
818
00:41:16,941 --> 00:41:17,675
♪♪