Posted by The Haunted Librarian | Filed under Para Scammers, ParaScammers, Phony Psychics, Uncategorized
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12 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted by The Haunted Librarian | Filed under Para Scammers, ParaScammers, Phony Psychics, Uncategorized
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10 Saturday Aug 2019
Posted Famous People, Fox Sisters, Para Scammers, ParaScammers, Psychics, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on Who Were the Fox Sisters?
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Who Were the Fox Sisters?
The Fox Sisters are sometimes called the originators of Spiritualism in the United States. Here are some facts about the sisters and a quick overview of their lives.
Learn more about phony psychics at Dragon Con 2019!
Update and Clarification: I believe they had psychics gifts, but those gifts were either exploited by others or used for fraudulent gain. Look for my follow-up blog addressing these theories.
03 Saturday Aug 2019
Posted Dragon Con, Para Scammers, Psychics, Scams, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on P.I. Bob Nygaard At DragonCon
Private Investigator Bob Nygaard will be appearing at DragonCon over the Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. Nygaard will be discussing several phony “psychics” he helped identify and locate for prosecution.
For more information and ticket information, view https://www.dragoncon.org/.
08 Tuesday May 2018
Posted Bigfoot, Cryptozoologist, Hoaxes, In the News, Para Scammers, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on Uncle Sam Wants Bigfoot Trackers?
Uncle Sam Wants Bigfoot Trackers?
Last week, news broke about Keith Barnes, a 46-year-old Arkansas man, who liked to dress up and pretend to work for the federal government. More precisely: Barnes claimed he was a “Bigfoot Tracker” for the Department of the Interior. Yes, Barnes claimed that the US government employed him as a Cryptozoologist. While he was under investigation for impersonating a federal employee, Barnes was arrested for possessing child pornography. It is unclear if the investigation as to his impersonating a federal employee continues and if the charges would be rolled into the criminal charges. Barnes’ next court appearance is scheduled for June 18, 2018.
No, the US Department of the Interior does not employ cryptozoologists. Although an interesting and ever-changing job, the position does not exist. However, should one exist, what would the job posting look like?
A Cryptozoologist is a person who studies the existence of “disputed or unsubstantiated species.” The most common are called Bigfoot, Yeti, and Sasquatch. Although a science-based college degree is not required, it is strongly encouraged that the person know about animal life. Further, by definition, it is implied that the Cryptozoologist be a “Zoologist,” someone who has an undergraduate degree in animal biology.
A “Bigfoot Tracker” is a person who tracks Bigfoot. No college degree or experience needed.
Ideally, the job would fall under the purview of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A “Bigfoot Tracker” would probably apply for a Park Ranger position or any of the Biologist jobs. Both positions require an undergraduate degree or relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
Extensive travel would be involved. Due to the large size of the nation and the varying reports, prospective applicants would need to travel. A lot. Outside organizations are better equipped to handle such reports. They have the infrastructure and network in place to maximize personnel. The US government does not.
The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) claims to be the largest virtual community of researchers, scientists, journalists, and enthusiasts. Founded in 1995, the organization’s mission is to explore the “bigfoot/sasquatch mystery” using scientific means. Membership is by invitation-only. The organization is most known for its connection to the Finding Bigfoot TV show that aired on Animal Planet. [Barnes was admitted to the BFRO. To date the organization has not released a statement about his arrest or the other investigation or whether he remains a member.] For more information, view their website at https://www.bfro.net/.
This is not to say that the government is not interested in the paranormal. While the government has paid contractors to investigate extraterrestrial life, the government does not maintain job lines, complete with pensions and limited job protections. Instead, the government monitors developments and then investigates. If the job title sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Barnes is another example of a paranormal scammer (#ParaScammer) who fed lies to fuel his ego.
08 Tuesday May 2018
Posted Hoaxes, In the News, Marietta, Para Scammers, ParaNews, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on #ParaNews for the Week of May 7, 2018
Paranormal News for the Week of May 7, 2018
#ParaNews for the Week of May 7, 2018
04 Friday Aug 2017
Posted Dragon Con, Investigations, Para Scammers, Paranormal, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on Beware the #ParaScammer
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Beware the #ParaScammers
The Haunted Librarian coined the term ParaScammers. These are people who either take advantage of people in the paranormal community or they are people who fake special talents in order to profit. The list grows annually. She will discuss famous and well-known cases and possibly some that may surprise the audience. In addition, she will discuss how she protects herself from scammers and offers suggestions for others.
Tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 1st at 9 PM. Purchase tickets online at http://www.dragoncon.org/.
06 Wednesday May 2015
Posted Ghost Hunting, Ghost Tours, Para Scammers
inBeware the Scam Artist #ParaScammers
Earlier this week, I blogged about the unfortunate events that occurred during the “A Haunting in Tombstone” event. (See “Carol Malone Bombs in Tombstone” https://thehauntedlibrarian.com/2015/05/03/carol-malone-bombs-in-tombstone/) Well, actually, the non-event. Carol Malone scammed many, many people out of their money by promising an incredible paranormal event packed with guest speakers, vendors, and investigations. Ms. Malone showed up to disappointed crowds and ran for the hills—right after she was cited for failing to pay for services rendered. Unfortunately, Ms. Malone is not the only one who has illegally profited from the para community. It’s time for us to join in solidarity and to condemn these actions.
John Albrecht, Jr. penned an excellent article, http://www.examiner.com/article/carol-malone-aka-london-knight-scams-haunted-historic-town-arizona. I encourage you to read it. John also posted a YouTube video. It’s worth viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dE-KbISLJY#t=25.
Something positive did arise from this. Watch this segment and see how people made the best of the travesty and salvaged investigations. https://www.facebook.com/HuffParanormal/videos/vb.418566248207499/896034383794014/?type=2&theater
So what should you do? Spread the word. Keep people like Carol Malone out of our community. Do due diligence. There are some fabulous and credible entertainment companies out there. Support the community. And finally, associate with positive people. Let’s kick the negativity out of the paranormal community.