They became the center of attention with Ece Gürel's death... The spell trap on Instagram: Here is how they deceive citizens

The death of Ece Gürel, who lost her life due to hypothermia after going missing in the Belgrade Forest, has turned attention to the spiritual content spreading rapidly on social media and the fraudsters operating in this field. Impostors who introduce themselves with titles such as "psychic," "master," "healer," and "energy expert" are victimizing thousands of people using social media platforms.

THE INSTAGRAM SPELL TRAP

Fake accounts opened specifically on Instagram gather followers under the guise of tarot and palm reading. These accounts, which run advertisements, demand money by deceiving people with promises such as "Breaking spells," "Making someone fall in love," and "Bringing back an ex-lover."

The fraudsters share WhatsApp numbers for communication and guide victims through private messages. These individuals, who initially ask for a small amount of payment, demand additional fees as the process progresses under the excuse that "The spell is very strong, more procedures are needed."

PAYMENT IS DEMANDED

According to a report by Sabah, an account named "Medyum.akbar.hoca" on Instagram claims to perform spells, guarantees results to its followers, and ensures they contact them via WhatsApp. It is observed that the prices for spell services on the account range from 1,000 TL to 15,000 TL.

Another account named "Medyum_talhahoca" states that it offers services such as "Making someone fall in love," "Binding," and "Return rituals," and promises citizens "Free readings." However, after a while, they demand money and send threatening messages to those who do not pay.

One of the biggest tactics of these accounts is to close their accounts and reopen them under different names once it is understood that they are committing fraud. In this way, they constantly target new victims.

Many people who have been exposed to such scams express their complaints on social media platforms. One of the victims described being scammed by a person known as "Mahir Hoca" with the following words:

"He scared us by saying there was a spell on us and that if it wasn't broken, our home would be destroyed. He took 3,000 TL at first. Later, he said, 'This spell is very strong, I can't break it, if you don't buy a sacrificial animal, the process won't be completed.' He said he would cancel the process if we didn't pay the money. When he heard we would file a complaint, he threatened us. He mocked us by saying, 'Go ahead and tell the news, let's have some fun.'"

DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY FRAUDSTERS!

Experts state that individuals claiming to provide services over social media as "spellcasters," "psychics," and "energy experts" should not be trusted. In the face of such fraud, it is recommended that victims seek legal recourse and file complaints with the relevant authorities.

"SPIRITUAL SLEEPWALKING"

Psychiatrist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Armağan Samancı said the following on the subject:

"Development in society can lead to a vital blockage in a group of people. Because there is a life being lived, and then there is a life being lived on the internet and social media. When there are large gaps between the life people live and the life they want to live, certain problems can arise in individuals. A fake life draws people into its sphere of influence. When this happens, individuals look for an exit point to overcome their troubles. People are looking for something miraculous, quick, and capable of solving problems at their root. When people have such a state of mind, they fall into the trap of those who exploit this situation.

When a person enters a major depression, a state that we call Dissociative Disorder, or a 'break' state, can occur. This is not a loss of consciousness, but rather more like a spiritual sleepwalking. When this happens, they may have embarked on the task of going to the forest to seek a solution, and as we said, a Dissociative Disorder may have occurred. Practices such as spells, tarot, and lead pouring have existed for a long time, and none of them have any scientific basis. However, the real problem is that the people dealing with these things should say 'stop' when they realize that the people in front of them have psychological problems and are at a point where they could be harmed."