10 Red Flags of a Fake Medium – What the Public Should Look Out For
10 red flags of a fake medium – what the public should look out for by Kristian von Sponneck, Psychic Medium & Psychic Entertainer
If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I know if a medium is real?” you’re not alone. 
For every genuine practitioner working with integrity, there are others who exaggerate, invent, or outright deceive.
Frauds damage trust, exploit grief, and poison the reputation of the entire field.
So here’s a straightforward guide — ten unmistakable red flags that should make you walk away immediately.
They Guarantee Contact
If a medium promises:
“You will hear from your loved one,”
“I guarantee a message,”
“Your dad is waiting to speak to you,”
…that’s a red flag.
Real mediumship doesn’t work on demand.
No one controls Spirit.
A genuine medium will never guarantee an outcome.
They Ask Too Many Questions
Fakes lead you into giving the information yourself.
They fish.
They prompt.
They push you to “help them out.”
A true medium gives information before asking for clarity — not the other way around.
Everything Is Vague or Universal
Statements like:
“Someone had chest problems.”
“I sense a father figure.”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
These apply to nearly everyone.
Vague messages are the trademark of cold reading.
Real evidence is specific — names, memories, personality traits, inside jokes, details that mean something only to you.
They Ask for Social Media Profiles or Extra Info Beforehand
A genuine medium doesn’t need to research you.
Frauds do.
If they check your Facebook, ask for photos, or want to know “a bit about you first” — walk away.
Real mediumship does not require background information.
They Use Fear as a Selling Tool
The moment a medium says:
“Your loved one is not at peace unless…”
“There is a curse on you and only I can remove it.”
“Spirit says you must book again.”
…it’s manipulation.
Fear is the weapon of a con artist, not a healer.
A genuine medium reassures — they don’t intimidate.
They Charge Escalating Fees or Upsell Services Mid-Reading
Examples include:
“For an extra £50 I can speak longer.”
“If you want deeper healing, that will cost more.”
“Spirit says you need a follow-up session.”
Real mediums set their price clearly before the session and never pressure clients to spend more.
They Tell You What They Think You Want to Hear
Fakes flatter.
They avoid anything difficult.
They tell comforting stories that sound more like wishful thinking than genuine communication.
Real mediumship can be emotional — but it is not performance.
Evidence comes first, comfort comes after.
Everything Sounds Scripted or Overly Polished
Frauds rehearse.
They use the same lines for every client.
Their messages feel too perfect, too cinematic, too dramatic — especially on social media.
Genuine mediumship is natural, conversational, and varies wildly from one reading to the next.
They Rely on TikTok-Style Tricks
Social media is full of sensationalist fakery, including:
“Spirit says stop scrolling.”
Fake tears for engagement.
Guesswork disguised as messages.
Fishing for comments to create the illusion of accuracy.
If a medium acts like an influencer rather than a communicator for Spirit, that’s a red flag in itself.
Real connection doesn’t need an algorithm.
They Blame You When the Reading Makes No Sense
Some frauds twist responsibility:
“You’re blocking me.”
“Your energy is wrong.”
“You’re not open enough.”
No.
If the evidence doesn’t land, the medium takes responsibility — not the client.
Authenticity means accountability.
How a Genuine Medium Behaves
To balance the red flags, here’s what you should expect from an ethical medium:
Evidence-first communication
Clear boundaries
No guarantees
No fear
No fishing
No drama
No upselling
Total transparency
Respect and compassion
Honest admission when something doesn’t make sense
Real mediumship is humble, grounded, and human.
It doesn’t need theatrics — the truth speaks for itself.
10 Red Flags of a Fake Medium – Final Thoughts
Frauds exist — but so do deeply genuine, compassionate, evidential mediums who work with honesty and respect.
The challenge is knowing how to tell the difference.
By educating yourself and recognising these red flags, you protect not only your own heart — but the integrity of an entire field that’s fighting to rise above the noise of deception.
Trust the medium who earns it, not the one who demands it.
You may like my last post, click the following to read Mediumship and Mental Health – When Spiritual Sensitivity Becomes Psychological Overload