Psychics

" Joe Nickell, a former stage musician who writes for the U.S. Skeptical Inquirer, said psychics will often "retro-fit" the information they supply so it jibes with the outcome.

If a body is found near a river, a psychic could take credit for mentioning "water" during a reading, said Nickell. If the body was instead found inland, but on a street with a nautical name such as Maritime Drive, the psychic could claim success in that instance, too.

"It's a form of after-the-fact matching", Nickell said.

There is no scientific evidence to support psychic's claims, but some may genuinely believe they possess paranormal abilities, he added.

"The person who is doing it ... may just have a fantasy-prone personality", he said. "

Source: Calgary Herald, June 25, 2012

Psychics offer gifts to dubious police

Jason van Rassel