Before you purchase spiritual work from someone not referred to you by someone you know, from the internet, or from a stranger that approaches you…. Know before you jump!
Has this ever happened to you??? Have you ever been on social media, and someone friends you out of nowhere? You check out their page, and all seems to be cool…. Then… a few minutes later… this Babalawo from Nigeria presents himself to you, and after a few lines you begin receiving messages about what Ifa has told him about you, and how you need his spiritual help to forge ahead? If this hasn’t happened to you… just wait… it will. I’m writing this because not only does it happen to me, but what burns me is that unscrupulous people out there work to get folks new to our traditions who don’t know any better and then they conduct a racket from over-seas. The fact remains that when you are new with your regular western, Canadian, American, or Latino name… and you see a name of Baba (insert long african name here)… it gives a sense of authority to them. They begin with the regular talks about the Orisha… and then … you are hooked. What happens next boils my blood because I’ve seen many folks lose hundreds to thousands of dollars on these ‘spiritual works’, and their lives do not improve and yet… the new person is out of funds. Orisha Wisdom wishes to provide tools to empower people into maneuvering our Orisha World, I hope that it will be helpful to you.
Myths
- African priests will not rip you off – Just because the person is from Africa it does not mean that they will not rip you off. This is a people thing. Just like people from (insert the name of your country here) will rip someone off…. someone from Nigeria or (insert other country name here) can also rip off another person.
- Only getting initiated in (insert name of country here – mostly Africa, & Cuba) is the correct way – Just because a person gets initiated in Africa or Cuba, it does not mean that the initiations will be good for you. If you do get initiated, then how are you going to be trained? To go back to the country to visit and learn? How much learning do you think that you are going to get in that week per year? There are wonderful priests all around the world that you can work with.
- A reading done on my behalf without my consent is okay because this priest knows what he/she is talking about – This is a HUGE myth. In the Orisha traditions, this is how it works. A person goes to a priest and the priest performs divination on the matter at hand, or a general reading. Can a reading be done on your behalf while you are not around? Sure… but only if you consent to it, and with a trusted priest. If this is your godparent, or a trusted priest, and you ask for a reading and your godparent or that trusted priest lives in another state, or even moved to another country, this can be done. Having someone that you do not know email you, message you, or send you a pigeon with a note stating that Ifa said XYZ… this is a huge red flag of someone who is unscrupulous.
- A priest emailed me and told me that Ifa/Orisha said that I need to get (insert name of spiritual work here) – This is a huge myth which is plaguing the internet right now as there are many people who are just finding out about our traditions and they just don’t know. When a priest gets initiated they go through certain vows to be ethical in their practices. Are all priests and pastors ethical? No, of course not. In our traditions, if you need a medicine or work of some kind, you have to get that read, and explanations must be made on why this medicine is for you. It’s like when you go to see a doctor. A doctor from another country would not randomly contact you to tell you that he was checking out your chart and that now you need (insert name of medicine here). Why would this be any different? If someone contacts you with this… they do not have your best interest in mind.
- A priest contacted me and told me that if I don’t get this (insert name of spiritual work done here) I am going to die, get killed, my family will die, etc. – This one is especially infuriating because of the madness of this statement. This preys on people who are in hard spots in life, and are …. basically easy prey for predators like this. This preys on the ignorance of not knowing who to go to, where to go with a spiritual problem, especially when first finding out about these traditions and you are afraid of telling anyone -(I’ve also known initiated priests who have fallen prey to these unethical practices.)
- A priest told me that Ifa said that I must marry him. / A Babalawo said that Ifa told him that I was meant to marry him as his apetebi – Does this happen? Yes… and it’s mostly when a babalawo is already in a relationship with a woman that this is divined for. (There are exceptions but not common ones) If a person is meant to be with him/her… then these two will come together. If anyone sends you or anyone you know a message that they must marry him in order to appease Ifa… Don’t. No, you will not die. No, your family will not die. No, you will not be lacking happiness in your life. If someone just from the internet contacts you with this… please take a snap shot of the communication, and report him to that platform, and to others in the community and block him. This is an unethical behavior!
- A priest said that during divination it came out that we have to perform a Divine Sexual Energy Ebo or (place here whatever line he uses to insinuate any sexual act) in order for me to have (insert positive outcome here) – Please my sisters, this is NOT done. Please, please please block this individual fast but only after you have gathered proof that this is happening and report him to the platform and to the community. I get sad and angry to see many of my sisters fall prey to this type of predator. They will take their time to get to know you first, and know your spiritual and relationship woes and then attack. If this happens… please know that this is unethical behavior. I’ve known many priests and babalawos over the years and NONE of them have ever insinuated sex for anything. This also falls to men — if anyone messages you or another brother of yours with this…. again… take the proof, report, and then block!
- A priest contacted me and told me that he can send me an orisha in the mail and that I’d be initiated into that orisha – Just because a person contacts you from (insert country name here, but mostly Africa), it does not mean that they are looking out for your best interest. Unfortunately, folks in Africa, especially in Nigeria have been waking up to the outrageous prices of spiritual work here in the United States and that is a fortune in their currency, and many folks here are hungry for the traditions.
Here are some tools to help you in your journey.
- If something doesn’t feel right… listen to that gut feeling. This is your Ori telling you that something is not right.
- Take the time to work and strengthen your Ori (your Higher Self). This is your innate compass that can help to guide you to what you need in life and how to get there.
- If someone is pressuring you to work with them and it feels like pressure — it is your choice to not do so.
- If someone is online and sends you numerous messages about this that you need to do, and how much and is relentless – block them from your inbox, messages, etc. All social media have this capability
- When you join a new group or social media site – do not openly state what your spiritual query or situation is. Being reserved will help you here. This will keep the sign of (I’m an easy target) away from you. Yes, it will take a bit longer to get you what you need – but it is better to wait rather than to lose sleep, sanity, money and your peace of mind.
- If online, you like how a certain priest is behaving online – how he/she responds to others’ questions… observe and then contact him/her separately to see how you vibe him/her. Set up a phone conversation (or several). Establish a rapport to see how you feel about this person. If so, then see if you can schedule a reading. If you would like an in person reading, see if that person can refer you a priest that he/she personally knows.
- Remember that it is ethical practice to request a reading, then be present for this reading, and receive a prescribed ebo (spiritual work / sacrifice).
- Remember that you can have a spiritual relationship with many miles in between; however there are parameters, trust, access, and transparency. This relationship cannot happen out of fear that something may happen to you, etc.
- Always keep in mind – there are good people and bad people in every arena – this is not an attack on any particular country – just on unethical practice of people … Just take care and remember that people are people.
Have you experienced anything like this?
Leave me a comment below or join on Facebook Orisha Wisdom Community and tell your story there!
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[tweet class=”full”]How to spot scammer Orisha priests online![/tweet]
Yes I got a message on Instagram from someone that sounds like everything you just said .
I just got a Dm on Instagram from ifa Priest and he said Universe has a message for me and then he proceeded to tell me the message and that I needed to reconnect with the goddess of the river oshun and that he’s going to make a soap that I need to bathe in for 7 days and I need to tell him his dreams and he’s going to write a daily prayer and make a sacrifice of the head or the Ori on my behalf but I’m still unsure what this is I don’t want a hex or curse be put on me I do believe in the afterlife and things that you cannot see and I don’t want to get scammed either so I’m unsure as to what’s going on cuz it’s all new to me I’ve never gotten a reading before
I had a woman on if who callas herself mama orishaa I think the username was Ayaba Farrell or something like that. Ibe purchased a charm from.her never recieved then then turns around and says that i have a legacy involving money and that I am a lucky woman and which is actually true which is weird she knows never met her a day in my life but continues to say if I send her all of mt money from my bank account as an offering to the dirty ill grt my $$calabash. And recieve over 25k daily or every other day montlhy she kept switching it up and my dumba$$ fell for it gave her over 2k plus it caused me to end up homeless couch surfing for 2 years then 2 other women keep posting the same exact screenshots of alters and rituals but the pictures of them and money and other familyes where real and other people (no offense) mainly white folk commenting thanking her for helping them have thousands of dollars everyone else got their shit but me?so idk what to believe
Like the article says “If someone is pressuring you to work with them and it feels like pressure — it is your choice to not do so.
If someone is online and sends you numerous messages about this that you need to do, and how much and is relentless – block them from your inbox, messages, etc. All social media have this capability”
Don’t do it!!!! Scammer did this and claimed to help this girl who died last week and stated he couldn’t heal her.
I had something similar
I am currently Pregnant and I recently had someone DM me on Instagram and they claimed to be an IFA priest and they said that they knew about my life and that they wanted to help me and that my ancestors connected him with me and that the intentions were to help me become financially stable and that my hardships would come to an end but that I had to give them my banking information for them to send me money to become wealthy and abundant and I refuse to give them the information and they have threatened me and my children and my unborn child which I am currently expecting. He said that if I don’t listen to the ancestors that the oracles were going to make me lose my child and that I was going to be very sick… Honestly it is very scary to have to hear these things if anyone knows or has been through this please if you can give me some peace of mind and tell me that everything will be okay because these things are scary to me right now! Please reply anyone that can!
No one should threaten you to give you spiritual advise. He is not for real.
I have people from Africa telling me that my ancestors contacted them because I was a chosen one. Supposedly, I have my blessings blocked and release it I have to go through a cleansing process. It would cost me, $50,$70 and $344. I don’t think so. They said that some evil energy was blocking my blessings.
What was the account? I was messaged today.
I got a message from instagram account babawo1238. They were very persistent.. And even called me. I heard their voice. They gave a cashapp that had an American name.
I was scammed into giving this ifa priest a total of $695. That’s a lot to me being a broke college student. Anyways. PLEASE PLEASE STAY AWAY from any random Instagram accounts. He kept calling my his beloved which turned creepy to me. Also his reading consultation info was something I could and did easily google. I am connected with Oshun God of River. I am blocked. There is evil around me. Not sure who but there is! Wtf and he said I needed to make a sacfrice promised before I came here and needed to cash app him right away. Yet he sent me numerous accounts that my bank said was involved in fraudulent activity. But my dumb butt fell for it and gave him so $100 then $170 then again for some soap I had to use and some dollar store beads necklace and two bracelets. Lots of pressure to pay for said sacrifice. Said I needed to compensate him when I become rich and that he would love to visit me in my state or me visit his temple in Nigeria. Claiming all sorts of things I will be a billionaire. Yadayada…. I think I will seek solace by praying to my ancestors myself. And visiting my local botanica… ask them what they think. I trust them more than a random ifa priest who wears a gold watch. RED FLAGS PEOPLE. Please stay alert and pray to whoever you believe in. Don’t fall for these scams. Cashapp and my bank alerted me those accounts were involved in fraud and scams!!!
Yes, that’s what they told me. Thank goodness I didn’t pay them. They were very persistent.
Im super late to this but I got one from “baba” on instagram @adebayo_babatola
I got a similar message from a claimed Babalawo offering an ebo sacrifice to provide me with health and success. The great Oracle of IFA stated divination costs $300 which will include removing blocks and getting me on my path. The account is new, the stranger reached out to me, the stranger asked for a photo of my palm and my birthday. The next steps would have been sending a photo of my face and paying $300 on PayPal to this stranger. The stranger even stated: “ Yes my daughter I understand what you mean due to the bad reputation of our country here that scams are much but I babalawo will never use the name of IFA to persuade or force you to collect money from you without showing you what the money was used for if I’m not sent or directed by your ancestors to you I will not have started this conversation with you but the Ebo sacrifice is very important in your life that’s why your ancestors lead me to You for it to be performed I know you might have not seen it but have that strong faith and believe and see what will happen and I believe you will surly see changes”
Handle: baba_adefemiifa
Account active for 5 days with only a few photos and no posts
Blocking the contact now. Thank you everyone for sharing – this site helped me make the judgment call to NOT proceed.
SCAM – the oracle even stated divination which is accepting this faith, this religion which is NOT the same as the actual religion they are imposturing; it has dead ends and no actual Tempe of worship – in fact they have proof that it’s a scam – so, Block it! You won’t get hexed! Nothing bad will happen… focus on strengthening your inner self so you stop falling prey to people like this again. We have the choice.
I actually had an experience recently and I paid. They apparently did the ebo and then. Prescription but it didn’t feel good I I didn’t move forward with it. I didn’t sleep for days feeling that they may try to harm me or my family. I blocked them. I was afraid of negative energy. I was in my head for days and I’m still working through it. Honestly it was a really bad experience. I will never ever do it again.
Has everything been alright Since you blocked them? I recently blocked someone and am worried they’ll try to curse me.
It’s all a plot. Believe in the Heavenly Father!!!
I’m in the same situation and boat . I feel threatened by this “ person who calls himself The Godfather “ he tells me that if I don’t do the ritual or if I don’t do the sacrifice that I am messing with my life and it will lead me to death . It terrifies me because it’s been at least 7 months now that I have been trying to get rid of this person and I can’t
I am so sorry…. this is upsetting… but not an uncommon thing. Please hear this episode…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkkSByF5W8&t=3s
I have someone who is a priest but has stated that my ancestors sent them. I asked which ancestor they could not reply who. And I asked why did they send them they explaines and some of it makes sense. But they stated that a Ebo divination ceremony needed to happen and then they would send me a bracelet , a part of me was saying yes but another was just saying no so I told them I would speak with my elders. B/c i don’t know . And I’m afraid that this could be a curse instead. And this was today on Instagram
I hope that you take the time to read through this thread and also listen to the podcast for some clarity.
I feel you in that and then they ask for pictures of kids and stuff I’m still scared but they did get 1400 dollars from me. It’s scary I should have never fallen into their trap now I’m living scared.
I just got one!! Priestess_pristine! I’m so glad I looked this up!!!! Thanks for the tip!!!!
I couldn’t sleep for days thinking they were going to do something because I didn’t go through with it.
I’m going through this now. I’ve refused to partake anymore and now I feel threatened and they know my full name and my family. I feel like a fool
You and me both .. I don’t know what to do I feel so trapped. He says that I will suffer , that I don’t know what I will to do my life .
Me too let me know how you are doing now. I just fell into their trap.
I just blocked someone that I had been dealing with. She threaten that I would lose my daughter and that she would run me crazy because she has our names and photos. This has me worried.. should i contact someone that maybe can help.
I’m so scared because I didn’t go through the prescription. I don’t want to be this way. I want feel at peace. I worked with the person but then I decided not do the prescription because it didn’t feel good to me after speaking with them a few times. Please help me
I have a Babalowa that told me the same thing a curse I need to send money picture of my palm plus shipping to get the soap here for 14 days. This is crazy I can’t believe I fell for this
Did you ever get the soap? I was in a bad place when I looked for help and a babalawo contacted me, and he did send me a bracelet and soap, but now I must pay for another shipping fee for an aje so that I can begin using the soap. I had my doubts, but I will go through with it to find out the truth.
Jason, I wish you the best… but in our traditions… no priest should EVER reach out to you. The way that it goes, it is us that go seeking. No legitimate priest will EVER message you out of the blue or asking to read you. That is deeply frowned upon because that is the green light of scammers. I do wish you the best in your journey… It might be useful for you to check out Aleyos 101 to know WHAT is a Good Priest… go to https://www.orishawisdom.com/a101comingsoon
Just because it’s coming from Nigeria or Cuba, or Mount Pinky … it doesn’t mean that it’s good. We have MANY great priests locally and these scammers are making a killing. (What kind of bracelet did you get? What ceremony was that for?) Just wondering… because we get ides… only through ceremonies, and through other odus as eboes.
Adupe…. Omileti
Hello Mr. Obinrindidun. The ceremony was for a money soap spell and a bracelet for protection. The bracelet has red and green beads with a large dark-brown nut in the middle. The thing is I was asking around for a magic spell to gain money because I was struggling very much at the time, and it was then when I was contacted by the babalawo. The thing is that when I received the soap and the bracelet, it had a certain scent to it. I can describe it as burned plants or strong roots. The package was delivered from Nigeria and when I smelled the scent it actually brought me some peace of mind. It helped me calm down and made me feel better. But I am new to this and trying to obtain all the money that is being asked from me is difficult, that is why I was a little doubtful.
Hi Jason… a couple of things. I am not a Mr…. in my bio it says that I am a mom…. (so now I get to have some fun with you)…. Would you be willing to listen to the podcast episode that speaks about scammers? I think that it might help. https://www.orishawisdom.com/43
Iv had a man message me on instagram… telling me I’m cursed by a woman, I paid him. For herbs to break the curse.. he sent me a video that was legit in regaurds to the chants.. then he said I needed protection… beads/bracelets to protect me from evil. I paid $340 for shipping and the herbs to place the protection, which I received with some powders to drink in water……
This exact thing happened to me. I lost ~$28k in less than two months. They pressured me saying my family will be hurt if I don’t pay and they also told me money was going to an orphanage that they refused to name. I received soap too n I have been using it but the “baba” started asking for Amazon and apple gift cards n my bank flag them as fraudlent accounts. I’ve filed every police report possible but they literally stole my entire savings. and lied to me by pressuring me to make donations or my family or loved ones would die. I’m working w authorities to to build a case on this. If your willing to share your story please contact me. This man contacted me on Instagram and asked for a picture of my palm too. And it just got out of control. I would love to hear your story and see if it’s the same person, if you’re willing to share. Please don’t hesitate to reach out on email or phone. I’m working with police dept, federal trade commission, and local attorney general office to bring justice to theses abusive imposters. They also sent me soap too. Email me for contact info.
I just blocked someone that I had been dealing with. She threaten that I would lose my daughter and that she would run me crazy because she has our names and photos. This has me worried.. should i contact someone that maybe can help.
Ive already lost so much money
Please email me at deniseleivalegal@gmail.com
Happened to me too
That’s what priest Japheth said that his Oracle will hurt my friend if she doesn’t send the money now she is scared does voodoo even work on people she sent him 400 hundred dollars then he kept asking for more like She is scared bcuz he like you will never sleep again I really don’t know she doesn’t what to do She scared can someone please help to what I should help her do please
I am so sorry that this happened to your friend. Please have her hear the Orisha Wisdom Podcast episodes 63 and 62
I hope that you both can breathe a little easier after listening to this.
I didn’t want to go through the prescription. I refuse to. I was contacted by the person and I paid and honestly at this point I don’t care about the money is my peace of mind. I didn’t want to do the ebo prescription. This scared me a little because I gave them my name and my husband name. I don’t know whY I was thinking. I didn’t give any account information but I’m scared. Please help. I’m so freaking nervous. I don’t know why I allowed it to get this far.
Think I’ve Fallen victim had some work done but it was always something he wanted to use my cash app to receive money and my bitcoins then when I said I wanted to move on I wasn’t doing anymore work he got mad start saying the ancestors would do bad things to me say I was making the ancestors mad like it’s scary
Did anything happen to you when you stopped
Hello Mandie,
Do you remember that person name who wanted to use your cash app to receive money and use your BTC?
My perpetrator name was oye d ryan – same situation
Same here like he would always have something new every other day and every time I would question him he would always tell me he was only trying to help and protect me and I needed to let him
I’m on the same boat !!! I hope we’re not talking about the same person . This “ man “ who names himself “ godfather “ told me he is a priest . He was tried to force me to make transactions of money for him up to 5,000 dollars . Idk why I was so stupid to do it. But he tells me things every single day . How something is going to happen to me , my family and loved ones and that if I don’t do it they are going to die . I get so sad and I get so much anxiety because I’m like I can’t freaking be cursed or something. And I feel manipulated and threatened by him if I don’t do it because he says if I don’t then it’s gonna be my fault .
Same thing happened to me. Literally. – This exact thing happened to me. I lost ~$28k in less than two months. They pressured me saying my family will be hurt n ancestors were gettin mad and would curse me if I don’t pay and they also told me money was going to an orphanage that they refused to name. I received soap too n I have been using it but the “baba” started asking for Amazon and apple gift cards n my bank flag them as fraudlent accounts. I’ve filed every police report possible but they literally stole my entire savings. and lied to me by pressuring me to make donations or my family or loved ones would die. I’m working w authorities to to build a case on this. If your willing to share your story please contact me. This man contacted me on Instagram and asked for a picture of my palm too. And it just got out of control. I would love to hear your story and see if it’s the same person, if you’re willing to share. Please don’t hesitate to reach out on email or phone. I’m working with police dept, federal trade commission, and local attorney general office to bring justice to theses abusive imposters. They also sent me soap too. Email me for contact info.
Could Margot please contact me I’d like to speak with you regarding your comment.
I just replied to a message i had received saying peace and blessings and all i replied was thank you. He then asked me if he could perform a reading for me and I was naive and sent him a pic of my right palm and my first name. He NEVER once said anything about a price and so when i told him thank you and goodbye he said he charges $25 for a reading and when i mentioned I had no money he began to almost threaten me and making it seem like i would regret it, saying that he has my hand and stuff and it scared me a little and it just disheartened me bc I truly wanted to believe that it was a message meant for me but i guess not . Anywho I didn’t send him money and i blocked him but I’m still a lil scared bc of how his character changed so fast all of the sudden . Oh well :/
So I got a text on Instagram saying that that I needed an ebo offering to be done for me. I’m so scared because I went along with it because I genuinely thought that they were trying to help. I paid the money and I guess they did the ebo offering but now I feel so sick and after reading this I blocked him but now I’m so sick and I’m really scared that they cursed me or something…..they have my mobile phone number and I’m scared they’re going to try to still contact me even though I blocked the original number. I’m literally so scared someone please help me I’m freaking out. I can’t believe I fell for this😭
I am so sorry about this. Don’t freak out…. honestly… listen to this episode… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkkSByF5W8&t=3s
What if it’s not a priest? But just a woman who wanted to send a message from the ancestors. She said I am lucky in life and will reach my goal but have a curse that needs to be cleared from my ancestors. I am currently asking her what she knows about me, that no one else knows. We will see how it goes.
I was recently asked by one of these Chiefs from Instagram I am not sure but.. he was very suspicious he say the Universe sent him to me and that I had a spell put on me by dark force and that I had to send him 150$ dollar & then he says I have to make an offering to 21 ppl by the next day which he said would be 357$ in total he sounded real sincere if he didn’t also ask me for things like pictures and my ID
Yes, Alot here lately. On this group I joined they said if anyone wants a free reading hey ‘Hi’ of course me being curious I say hi. Well Alot of different people msg me … All saying basically the same things… Like I have spiritual blockages in my life and that from birth I’ve had to much dark energies . Most of them asking for a small fee of $30 for material to rid these dark energies. But this one … Hasn’t asked for anything yet . And seems to somehow know more about me than some of my own family….I donno , I just know I’d like to have a real reading done….
In our Orisha Wisdom Community, we highly discourage from people asking for a reading or posting for ‘reading sales’ because this is a tactic that many have found themselves in bad situations. If you are interacting in a community and you LIKE a particular priest… then YOU approach him or her… and see where it goes. Please hear the Orisha Wisdom Podcast for more on this. Thank you for taking the time to write about your experiences.
Yes two women texted me telling they are priestess and i must pay 1000$ for my head,s feeding sacrifice, but i can see it,s fake.
Priestess Melissa Lucas contacted me on instagram. I fell for it.
I have received 2 different DMs on instagram. Both refer to me as my beloved daughter and my daughter. Both claim spell work. One is Shagun faith and Ogun faith username spell temple for solutions and has temple rules I must abide by.
And in this temple there are rule that
can never
be violated:
{1} Do not tell anybody about the spell until you
have seen result
{2} Do not work with me and the same time work
with another spell
caster it is either you make a choice
{3} Do not come here for jokes or take spell casting
for granted This
are the rule and regulation you must follow in other
for a good spell
casting and to get good result of 100% guaranteed.
And wants $300. Name is
I should report him right?
I am not surprised. One thing that you can do is block and report. This is NOT necessary. When you find someone to work with…. then this will NOT be an issue anymore. You are not FORCED to do anything. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
I have received messages like this a ridiculous number of times. I’m not sure why it happens so often.
I’ve been working with a guy in Nigeria for about four or five months now and I contacted him on Facebook after he made a post asking who needed a love reading or something like that. He asked for a picture of my palm and after getting it told me I was cursed and was being blocked from my blessings. He said he could help. I paid $100 for him to initially remove the curse. Then I needed soap and beads from him which would cost $500 which I sent over time. The soap and beads were supposed to make everything better and I was supposed to see a big difference. I didn’t. Now he has to perform a series of 7 sacrifices for the soap and beads and they all cost $200 each. I have been stressing myself out over getting him money because I desperately want to be free from whatever it is that has me stuck.
Hi there, and thank you for this comment. NOTE that in Ifa readings… we don’t use the pictures of the palm of the hand. That is not the way that these traditions work. I hope that you find someone more local to you. I believe that you need to know where the ibi is coming from (even if you have it) … and for some reason the eboes are not adding up. I’m hoping that you save that money for resources that will be much better spent getting you true help….
I’m in the same situation after being inspired by peoples testimonies I decided to contact this nigerian healer on fb for a blessing and I confined in him, he seemed so charismatic. Who told me that I must send him money & my pic so he can gather materials to resolve my situation in a few days after that payment he said it wasn’t enough then after that second transfer he wanted me to buy more items that I’ll need to use for 5 days saying there is going to be no more payment but after that he charged me extra for shipment and he said the money isn’t there, he wants me to resend it. When I cut him off he kept saying you have no idea to all that I’ve been through and the fasting I did to make u happy and I can’t use your money to feed my family or there will be consequences for me. In total nearly wasted £500. I am despaired and discouraged cause I can’t even find a priest locally who would be able to help with these unblockage that I’m going through. I am so empty atm been dealing with lots of shit. If anyone knows a genuine 1 please let me know
There are red flags all over this. Please read this thread in full to see more. I hope that you find what you are looking for and come out unscathed.
I was just contacted by two different people on Instagram. Both told me that I had some blockage. The second one asked me for my full name and a picture of my left hand. The second one is the one that did a reading for me. Then he started convincing me to give him my WhatsApp number and I was like I don’t give out my number because of trust issues and having a bad experience the last time I gave out my number to someone on WhatsApp. He said that I could trust him. I asked about the blockages. He said that it would be 300. Then he said that I would only have to pay 150. It started feeling weird so I decided not to pay and blocked his messages on WhatsApp and muted and deleted his messages on Instagram. He keeps messaging me. It’s been a very hard two and a half years for me and I really am sick of scammers. I get so many crazy emails. I have even gotten emails saying that I died when I know that I am very much alive.
This is wild. I just got the same thing about having some kind of blockages, asking for my what’s app number.
I simply blocked it
I am glad I found this article I have been into the Orishas a few years now on line and off line 99percent scammers elderly priestess baba etc.. you can report they will just go under another name the Orishas are beautiful but 2020 two countries Africa and Cuba people hungry more than Americans I was dummy dot com woke up research even if it’s sounds good .
My brother uses spirituality as a drug, one of these scammers approached him just like this online and my brother told him so much personal details hoping to seek answers. The Man didn’t even ask, my brother talked about his love life and already listed people that may have put a curse on him. I am a spiritual person but I can’t talk to my brother about these things because he just wants instant gratification. He already paid the man after I told him not to and he still owes me money. I’m not talking to him anymore, he won’t go to a therapist and he’s not going to get any more money from me to support his habit. I don’t know how to protect him, but he doesn’t want to hear the truth.
I didn’t want to go through the prescription. I refuse to. I was contacted by the person and I paid and honestly at this point I don’t care about the money is my peace of mind. I didn’t want to do the ebo prescription. This scared me a little because I gave them my name and my husband name. I don’t know whY I was thinking. I didn’t give any account information but I’m scared. Please help. I’m so freaking nervous. I don’t know why I allowed it to get this far.
Yes absolutely
Someone on Instagram name Smalley Turman dm me talking about ancestors contact him and led to me : Done Ebo on my behalf which has cost $110
Then said I have to pay $200 to ship something to which I have to use it every day for 14 days
I know I should have not trust this stranger but you know , being honest I would never do anything like this to anyone there for I put my trust in him / however I will not pay additional $200
I got a similar message today from a different instagram user. Saying my ancestors contacted him during his prayer and we need to remove all my blockages so i can fulfill my destiny. He talked about an ebo sacrifice and i mentioned i had no money i could give him. Im trying to see if he will pay himself for the necessities and do the sacrifice for me anyway.
I feel like this may be a scam because his account only has a few posts and all from june 5th. (New).
He also said a few things that really made sense though so i feel conflicted.
This exact thing is currently happening to me right now. I
’m a pretty spiritual person (I’m a Moon lady), so of course I was interested. Red flags went off instantly because I have been scammed before and I’m extra extra cautious.
Account was made in April
Posts go up to July 14 (all photos look like google images).
He claimed my ancestors reached out to him and that I am the true star in my family and in order to fulfill my true destiny I must perform a Ebo. I must rid myself of jealousy, setbacks. He mentioned that there are no good people left in my life.
He told me to do my research and I did.
When I told him I had no funds to give him for the ritual supplies, he said that he would like to be my spiritual guide. He wanted to be on a video call if we did the Ebo and then wanted to call me to guide me through the meditation.
I’ve kept the conversation going for so long just so I can attempt to catch him up.
Glad I’m so through with my research, because here I am.
I also got the same message. He commented on one of my ig post and told me to dm him saying that my ancestors made him reach out to me. I texted him and he said the same thing you mentioned. I replied saying thankyou and he hasn’t respond.
I am going through this now I’m out 700.00 dollars falling for this crap!!
This happen to me too I’m going through this RIGHT NOW I’m out 700.00 dollars paying for shipping for a 14 day spiritual bath. This is Sad and it’s our own people
Why information they they ask you for? I went through the same thing. I’ll never do something like this. I’m just nervous because I gave them my name and I didn’t send picture of myself but I had one on my PayPal account and I think they saw it. I just want to confirm are you okay after this situation? I find myself worrying about their intentions.
I just fell in the trap and makes me vey upset! I was contacted by someone on Instragram, a so called Babalawo something who lives in Oyo, Nigeria. He sent me a DM saying my ancestors had told him he should be my Godfather and he would guide me in the Ifa path. Then he said I should do a divination and charged me 50 USD. As I am a curious person and I’ve been doing some readings on Ifa, I sent him the money and next thing he was asking for 350 USD for an Ebo and telling me to give him my account details because his wife who lives in the States could not send him money, so they needed my bank account details. That’s when I realized it was a scam and blocked him everywhere. I would just advise people to be very careful with this things. I still can’t believe this happened to me!!
Wow! What a story! I am so sorry that this happened to you. This is why we are adamant to share and open folks eyes so that they don’t become prey! Note… that not everyone is like this… but there are always great priests around YOU… and NO ONE ever… will reach out to you from some country… and be touched by Ancestors…. when your Ancestors can lead you to someone who is much closer. If anything feels off… even just a little bit… put it down. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Hi I would love for you to reach out to me , I was going through a lot and was also messaged on fb by a man claiming to be a baba . Said that his spirits were connected to mine that ifa has a message for him to give me about my daughter . I did a reading told me I was cursed and me and my daughter would need Ebos it would cost 400 dollars I sent him some of the money . He kept telling me he loved me and referring me as beloved . I gave him my info and my children’s names but I refused to give my address . Then he started wanting his so called other god daughters and god sons to send me the money he collect and me send it to him on Bitcoin because ifa told him I was the one to be trusted so I did that for a few days but after 5000 was sent my account got flagged and froze . I let him know this I told him I didn’t want his guidance any longer I blocked him on fb and he’s still harassing me on WhatsApp I just don’t respond . I am so scared I’m pregnant I have other children he has their names and knows my name and what I look like . I don’t sleep good I’m having bad dreams im afraud he’s going to put a curse on me and my children . Please reach out to me I’d love to talk with you
This is upsetting. Please do not fall for this. Feel free to email us…
Was Bowofola Onifade Ifagoriola his name?
I got one done by him..
i received a dm on instagram and he said he’s not after my money he wants to help me what should I do?
Thanks for writing. What do you think? Someone out of the blue messages you? Our Traditions don’t work like that. It is us that seek the wisdom of Ifa. It doesn’t come to our dms… Sounds like the beginning of a scam to me.
I would like to know how someone can find a priest to really get help and get unblocked!! No one is even asking that question! What is the best way to go about getting help!
Hi Shay, finding a priest will start with knowing what lineage…. and listen in to the podcast to find more clues on to HOW…. getting a priest to help you… there are many episodes that go over this.
No reputable priest goes to find anyone. This is a BIG challenge that many of us priests are dealing with. If a person is a great priest… they are BUSY with referrals and their own spiritual community. I think that you should just let this person go into the nether-regions of blocked dms. A babalawo very early on in my journey told me the following. Ifa looks for no one… it is everyone who comes to the foot of Ifa. Thanks for writing.
I paid $100 for a reading and now the babalawo is asking for $850 for ingredients for the Ebo sacrifice. I said thanks but no thanks. He is now claiming that he ment to send that to someone else. I feel like that it wasn’t a mistake. He tried to justify his mistake. He keeps calling, but what slither of trust I had is gone.
I got a similar message today from a different instagram user. Ifa.seun.awo. Saying my ancestors contacted him during his prayers to the world for pandemic reasons, and we need to remove all my blockages so i can fulfill my destiny. Apparently a grandparent didnt hold the end of their bargain and because i am the brightest star of my family im stuck with wtv this deal was. It will be passed down to my future generations if i dont remove it. Its why my life has been so difficult and it needs to be removed asap because i am not where i am destined to be currently. He talked about an ebo sacrifice and i mentioned i had no money i could give him. Im trying to see if he will pay himself for the necessities and do the sacrifice for me
He has said if he had the funds he would do the sacrifice for me absolutely. He also has not pressured me and even said im not being forced to do this but it really is important that i consider it in order to fulfill my destiny.
He informed me a lot and didnt really talk about money…. im the one who said i didnt have any because i was afraid it’s a scam.
I’m very spiritual and i had a feeling this person had an important message for me the moment i saw the notification in my dm’s.
I feel like this may be a scam because his account only has a few posts and all from june 5th. (New).
He also said a few things that really made sense though so i feel conflicted. He also asked for my whats app info so he could video chat me and show me the ritual.
I asked if i could just get the ingredients for the ritual myself and just do it myself, and he said it has to be done at the high temple.
Im not going to send money but i dont want my destiny to be unfulfilled either. I feel conflicted….
I figure if im meant to really get this done the universe will find a better way to get the message across to me maybe? I don’t know.
Thank you so much for writing your story. NO REPUTABLE priest will EVER randomly reach out to you. EVER! It’s not the way that these traditions work. I wish that by some magical thread, some priest in the middle of some village had the power to contact random people on the internet and tell them ‘stuff’. The way that it works is that — you seek out the priest… you go to his/her mat… and they prescribe ebo. Can a reading be done via phone or video? Some people say ‘yes’, others say ‘no’…. I personally have seen that it works… especially when travel is impossible… but always with the permission of the individual… but not because it was some random DM. Now about the ebo….. if ebo is prescribed… then you have to do it (at least… it’s your choice to do the ebo). Since this is something that YOU didn’t seek out… I wouldn’t worry too much. When you find a good priest…. someone that YOU chose, or someone that you were referred to… be them present, and get your proper reading done, and be prepared to do the ebo. Yes… ebo will cost money, but not evrey ebo will hundreds of dollars. I would just block this person… and I’d start trusting your gut. You already know that this is a scam… just by what you wrote. 🙂 Be blessed… 🙂
I didn’t want to go through the prescription. I refuse to. I was contacted by the person and I paid and honestly at this point I don’t care about the money is my peace of mind. I didn’t want to do the ebo prescription.
This is a message I just received, my gut told me to research it and I came directly to this site. Thank you.
Good day my dear how are you may the blessings 🙏 🙏 of Olodumare an ancestors be upon you (Ase) I am a IFA priest from Orumila Adebayo temple. I don’t use to follow any how people if am not sent or directed by Olodumare an our ancestors I have been sent to connect with you
I just got the same exact message from an account on Instagram, and the things they said align with my life so this is all very conflicting as I am at a stage of great change and new beginning. They message me and tell me that they can preform an Ebo divination ceremony to release blockages and curses that were caused by my parental offspring. Mind you I have very lost parents.
Kaleb, glad that you found this post. Something that I was told earlier on… is that IFA doesn’t look for anyone… it is everyone that goes to the foot of IFA. I’m glad that you paused for a moment…. That was definitely a scam.
instagram user by the name of Sengun Adewale contacted me through instagram i was listening to what he had to say i am also spiritual and i dont know if it is a scam or not but i do know that i lit my manifestation candle an spoke what i belive to manifest and not to long later got the message from the man speaking only what i could have know that i feel so i am also confused on what to do here in this situation i dont feel as if it is just a coincident that this all happend in the same night
I got the exact same message from an if a priest saying that one of my grandparent had a deal with a spirit and did not hold up their end of the bargain so this spirit will take from me slowly because I am the brightest star and destiny of my family.. but when I told him I didn’t have money and I really don’t because of this pandemic, his whole persona changed and he was so mad and kept saying I should be grateful because many people do not have this opportunity & I was asking questions to make sure he wasn’t a scammer and he said that I am going to die soon for not going through with the ego sacrifice and making it seem like he is a liar.
I have been contacted by one Emmanuel Matthew who told me that I was born with gifts and is a glorious child and that someone did witch craft on me as child and that I needed a sacrifice done to rid me of this evil act, I asked of him who is the person he could not say. He then sent me a message about three weeks after sending me of a pic with a cushion and some bead like stuff saying he consulted the oracle and he found out who the person was, and that they are trying to kill me and that I must act fast. he said to send $200 US and that he will do a video and show me step by step when he is performing the sacrifice. I then told him I am not a rich person and works too hard to send money all the way to Nigeria for him to do whatever it is he says he has to do. he started to sound as if I would be sorry if I don’t do what he asks. I told him thanks after which he responded with a “thumbs up” emoji. Some Priest he is huh.
I wish that I could tell you that I am surprised… but I am not. Thank you for sharing. NOTE — NO PRIEST will EVER contact you to tell you that they got some message about you. EVER! I can understand that if that priest is your brother, husband, or sister, or close friend… but NEVER some stranger. ANOTHER NOTE — One should NEVER go with a priest with FEAR. If something like that were to come out with a person that you regularly get read by… I would understand the alarm but this is a stranger… who now is doing things without you knowing? NO NO and NOPPPPE. Just block him.. There are many GREAT priests that you can meet and get to know that will not go hunting on your DM’s. What you gave is exactly an example of a NON REPUTABLE PRIEST.
I was approached by dm from a man named Friday apkavan
He asked me to do an ebo offering first . Then he send me over the beads and soap . I was to use for 7 days . Once I used it and payed him
The person I wanted to return did return . But now he is saying i need to do another magic spell worth $1000. When I told him this was too much money ( I had already payed $800 for the soap and beads ) he told me that I had washed myself with 17 spirits . He said there were now 17 spirits around me and if I don’t do what the ancestors tell me something bad will happen to me . He always wants to do video calls .
I never do . At this point in scare because he said this was to brings blessings and unblock me .
I need help please
I hope that you take the time to read this thread in full… and to listen to the podcast episodes on this topic…. I hope that you find clarity. No legit priest will EVER reach out to you first.
I got a message from Elida_shina
It said
Good day my dear how are you may the blessings 🙏 🙏 of Olodumare an ancestors be upon you (Ase) I am a IFA priest from Orumila Adebayo temple. I don’t use to follow any how people if am not sent or directed by Olodumare an our ancestors I have been sent to connect with you Because anybody I follow or send message I do pray for them an most people on my page inside the temple so the ancestors do review something about each person during that process
My dear due to what I was review among your family an friends your star ✨ is the one that shines most you are supposed to be the one to change the situation of your Family but there are too much delays an blockage that what coursing delay for you the situation you are going through now is not what you should be facing now you have meet with people that could have help you a long time ago but dew to the blockages an jealously that why you have not been able to move forward
I said blockage?
Yes my dear blockage, It was reveal to me that you have a brighter future an there are blessings that you should have received a longtime ago but there are some blockages that has been delaying you from getting does blessings so until the blockage has been casted befor you can start moving forward financially /spiritually an the ancestors required an Ebo sacrifice done on your behalf an it will be taken to a T junction by 12:am for you to get to the stage Olodumare has destined you to be
I just blocked I’m afraid to get scammed. They had friends and all friends I clicked on had 0 post and they only had a couple pics maybe like 5 or 6
You dodged the bullet on this one. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been dealing with a chief priest from OYO Nigeria and told me I have to pay 50 a month to feed my orisha with sacrifice. What do you guys think? I send him money already for blessings and for a package to get sent to me. What do you think? I would like advice.
Hi Anthony, each case is individual. Have you been working with this priest already? Have you received spiritual items from him already or are you just getting readings? There may be more to this. You might need more help to better arm yourself with information to know what questions to ask. A one-on-one with me could be helpful, see in the shop for which timing can work. This message is too vague to have an intelligent response.
I had that exact same message sent to me! Scammers ugh.
I think the same guy is trying to message me now. I do alot of my own spiritual clearings and I’m fairly successful with it so I found it strange that someone ‘seeked me out’ to tell me all of this. I have also been scammed by fake nigeria orphanages on fb as well. My opinion is if they are truly looking out for u the info would be free- I have worked for free when I felt it was divinely guided for a person’s protection and only after they asked for help or I have asked. In short if they thought it was drastic enough that they had to seek you out they wouldn’t be asking for money. I have charged but only for those I know could afford it or it wasn’t an emergency. As the woman wrote on this always trust your intuition. If it doesn’t feel right even slightly don’t do it.
I had a similar situation but he asked for a picture of my palm and read it. He charged me $30 for a ritual to be done but then told me I would need to send him $200 for protection beads and a soap to use daily. His name is Ifakayode Aworinde. Also when I asked him what made him write me he responded that he was directed from the ancestors to do the reading which I did the night before ask for a sign and guidance 🤦🏽♀️
Hi there everyone. I wanted to share my full story, as I felt validated, relief and regret hearing everyone else’s. but also am now in a bit of a dilemma and would like to hear your advice. I apologize for it being so so long but I am looking for help and don’t know where else to turn. I’d really appreciate it if it was fully read through. I will get to the false priest part, I just think I need to share context as well. thank you so much.
I want to start by saying I am a person who has always been around different forms of practice. IFA is not what I know, but I’ve grown up around Ocha and so I am not entirely new to this world. I have always had abilities that within the last six years have continued to increase and develop. But I’ve never had an elder or community to show me the way because the people I knew were not well-intended, peaceful people. So I decided to develop my own practice. my relationship to spirit has always been unique to me. this however did leave me feeling inadequate or uneducated at times but it’s all I could do because I had no guides in my life but always had my faith.
within the last year specifically, I’ve felt especially distant from God, my ancestors, spirit guides, Orishas, universe etc. Like they couldn’t get through to me or I was missing something. I’ve felt lost and blocked and confused and like a failure. in a way I never have. I may not have always seen all the details to my destiny, but I could feel it, deep within my bones and for some reason this feeling felt disintegrated. I’ve had a traumatic and tumultuous life but this has never strayed my faith. if anything it was the one thing I always knew I had if I had nothing else. in my daily life and in the face of adversity, I always leaned on my faith.
within the last week in an effort to try to change this distance and what I felt was silence from them, I decided to dedicate myself to updating my practice. I’ve had many difficult times but also never-ending miracles. things, moments, and people that always reaffirmed I was divinely guided and protected. so this recent distance was frustrating to me but I knew I could try to fix it. I realized that although I can’t control how far away they feel, I can control my practical relationship to it. I’d decided to create a stronger alter, meditate everyday, and even go to my first botanica, alone; trying to find new ways to devote, offer, and connect. I’d grown up going to botanicas with family members, (same vengeful, resentful people) but this was the first time I went by myself. Ive been praying and praying and praying letting my guides and ancestors know how thankful I am to them and that I wanted to develop a deeper relationship. I wanted to know them clearer and that I would do what I could on my side to make this happen.
during one of my prayers this week a new thought came to me. I was reflecting on the many terrible ways I’ve been treated by people and how I ultimately wanted to send positive energy towards them to heal whatever is inside them that projected that pain onto me. there have been times where I’ve been caught up in issues with other witches/practicers and I never was threatened or scared to think they could cause me any energetic harm. because of my deep faith and what I’ve always felt was protection, they could never shake me even if they tried. but I’ve recently really recognized how much pain, loss, and trauma I myself have gone through and how much work I need to do. in reflecting on recent months I began to notice just how many minor and major consistent inconveniences had occurred to me. but because of my high tolerance for pain I never realize how painful these things were. in this prayer I took a moment to say that I wasn’t one hundred percent sure but that if anyone has ever cursed/hex me, I prayed for them to come forward HONESTLY so that we could fix this problem together. and that I do not wish to send them a hex or even what they may have done to me, but that ultimately I wanted them to heal, because the issue is deeper than me. I was only theorizing but I put it out there. as I said, I have never thought of someone truly and successfully doing this so even I was taken aback to think this were a possibility but I prayed on it just in case. I am in the middle of trying to grow and heal myself, and this naturally involves the others that may have done this to me.
I am half Dominican with significant relatives having passed I would occasionally speak in Spanish to them directly when praying. but in this update of my practice I decided to speak in Spanish throughout the entire prayer, just trying to change things up and challenge myself. Spanish is my first language but I’m much more fluent in English as I have been raised in the states. it was difficult but I tried my hardest and kept to it.
that night I fall asleep. in the in-between state of being awake and asleep is when I can feel other entities, spirits, ancestors etc the strongest. I generally can but especially there, or in complete darkness. I was suddenly awakened by deep male voice that breathed into my ear and said something. im not sure what he said or even what language but it was so jarring I shot awake and screamed loudly. I didn’t sense that it was a malicious spirit but it was especially overwhelming in a way I’d never felt before. and I didn’t know why. I have never screamed out of fear of anything spiritual. when I say this I mean, I have fully fought off literal demons; dark, terrifying energy and have never reacted like this.
I live with another witch (who is my good friend and also has incredible gifts) so I decided to go to her room because I still felt it around after waking up. I also want it to be clear that this kind of experience happens to me all the time, but this was the first time I reacted this way. as I said I didn’t feel it was bad but I also couldn’t immediately tell if it was good or if I even knew it personally so I went to go sleep in her bed. (I was also very tired and it was 5 am) when I went to lay with her she could also feel it, viscerally. She felt her back was “white hot” as she explained. and kept singing Spanish songs in her head although she doesn’t speak Spanish or understand it at all. I was in this very bizarre haze and kept hearing breathing (that wasn’t hers) as I drifted in and out of sleep. I also had the the term “agua Florida” or Florida water in English, stuck in my head on a loop. I knew of Florida water already but have never bought any myself. the name “Shango” also popped into my head, which again I knew of this Orisha’s name but have never known exactly who mine are. and he especially was not one that I knew much about.
that day I wake up and decided to go to the Botanica nearest to me. when I google it I find that in the name of closest one to me has my mothers middle name and my grandmothers first name. i took this as a positive sign, prayed to my ancestors to protect me as I was venturing into this alone and went that very day. I walk in with no reservations on what I wanted to purchase, I just wanted to see what I would be drawn towards or if I felt anything. I walk through the entire store, taking my time, and noticing however I feel along the way. I look through the entire candle section carefully. I pass by some Shango ones. I know that him being one of my Orishas is a possibility but I also know I don’t know for sure and want to continue trying to connect before I bought anything in his honor. I continue on in the section, there are dozens of shelves and hundreds of candles. I stop. and notice a candle that reads “Santa Marta La Dominadora” or “Santa Marta the Dominatrix” she is a Black woman adorned in a snake with big hair. I was surprised for a couple reasons 1) I have never heard of her before 2) I am a Black woman with big hair and have also always loved snakes but my roommates won’t ever let me get one lol 3) two months ago I decided I wanted to become a dominatrix. I read on the candle that it was made in Dominican Republic which is great because my family is from there, but I had never heard of her before. I decided to google her because I wanted to find out more. I find out she is a part of hoodoo or voodoo which I know is a closed practice that I have not been invited to or born into. I put my phone down, and in the room next door, as Im looking at the candle I hear one of the shop owners speaking to one of the customers. they’d been speaking the whole time, but suddenly the owner says “Oh! Santa Marta! Do you want to see her?” and I was shocked. just as I was contemplating whether this was a coincidence or significant she says her name, a name I’ve never heard before. It was thrilling. but still, I did not purchase it as I wanted to do more research, I bought some Florida Water, as I wanted to pay for my visit and wanted to bring back my witch friend a gift for helping me that morning.
I go home and research and look into this saint I came across. I liked what I was finding out but I wanted to give it a rest for a couple of hours.
that night im with my friends watching t.v in our home and I receive a DM on ig much like many of you. it is an IFA chief priest from Nigeria saying the following:
“Hello my beloved how are you, It was revealed by the ancestors that you have been lacking of not knowing what to do or steps to take for you to be on the right path spiritually, and you don’t know how to use your spiritual power ,they let me know you’re a glorious child that will be rich and famous , be a successful person in life but the witchcraft perform a spell on you when you’re a kid, which has been affecting you and blocking your way and it delay blessings to come to you as the ancestors have it in plan for you my beloved , you should have been more great,and successful in life more than this . If not because of the spell on you And also you are not well connected to your ancestors, and sometimes if you had a dream you won’t remember it which is not good.”
as I read this I broke down crying. for so many reasons. as I said I had been feeling this loss of hope in my life for specifically the past year, and especially the last three months profoundly. ill be turning 25 next month and Ive had this overwhelming feeling that I had missed something, that there was missed chance or opportunity. that I was late to something. id recently for the first time wondered if I had ever been cursed. id been actively trying to connect to my ancestors and strengthen my spiritual practice to do so. I had grown up around not just people who practiced Ocha, but my aunt and uncle who took care of me and my sisters for many years were Ocha Priests. my aunt specifically had always been gravely mentally and physically ill. she is a dark vindictive person with a lot of power. of our entire family, which is Dominican, she and I are the only Black ones. she suffered from a lot of racism growing up in D.R and resented her family. Especially my mother. She was always very caring and kind to me and my sisters, but there would be years we would go without speaking because of her issues with my mother. this person is so toxic she didn’t go to her mother or step father funerals or memorial services. her brother, my dear uncle, was murdered years ago mysteriously and she also never went to his either. I know she suffered from anti-blackness in d.r as I did, but she never understood the responsibility of taking control of your trauma by healing it. and I made sure this was something I did in my life because I saw how it ate her alive. she tried to have children when I was young but found out she was barren. I know she saw herself in me, and would even refer to me as her daughter because of our shared Blackness. But our relationship deteriorated because she refused to take care of herself. she was comfortable in sitting in victimization and not working through it as a 60 something person should. I knew she loved me in some way but because of her resent, which is completely plausible, she may have cursed me because of her emotional immaturity. so to read that maybe so much of the continuous turmoil of my life couldve been because of a curse given to me as a child made so much sense to me. to read that my path was actively blocked. that I should’ve been more, but there has been a delay. that my ancestors had been trying to be with me, but were being disrupted by something else. that I was supposed to be “rich & famous” which I know could fit anyone but I specifically am an aspiring writer and filmmaker and have been working at it for years with very little success, although im educated, talented, passionate and have tried and tried and tried with barely any fruit to show for it. reading this message at the EXACT time I had been working on and pondering these EXACT questions, I felt this hurricane-like sense of validation.
I never post online about my beliefs or practices; it always felt too sacred to me. and so I’ve always been very private. it isn’t a part of my social media presence at all. which is why it was also so weird to me that I would get something like this on social media. although the message was out of nowhere, it was in every way exactly what I needed to here in the middle of me looking for answers and guidance. not even in the middle, down to the exact DAY. the thing about elders as well, is that I know there are so many scammers out there. I know there are terrible people out there who take advantage of people looking for guidance. I know this, deeply, but the way the details came together were just so precise it was hard to even question. especially when I was trying to no longer question and believe relentlessly. id been looking for an elder for years and I thought this was my moment.
I replied endlessly thanking him for this information. and then he went on to develop the message he received with even more details. he told me that it was specifically someone from my family. MY FAMILY. just with the original message I thought it couldve been her. it couldve been anyone but it would’ve made a lot of sense if it was my aunt. so to receive even more details aligning with my own theory was so overwhelming I could never properly describe. he told me there were four rituals that needed to be done. 1. a cleansing ritual to release all negativity and blockages 2. a protection ritual to protect me from the negativity and not to receive any more 3. a connection ritual to connect me to my ancestors deeply so I can receive what they have planned for me and receive the opportunities and blessings trying to reach me 4. a ritual to pay homage to the ancestors/ Orishas. he also said after it is done the person who cursed me will come to me physically and apologize for what they’d done. in my mind I couldn’t believe I could actually receive what I had prayed for.
after all of this free information, I thanked him endlessly and asked how I could repay him. he said I just have to pay the exact price that it cost to buy the materials and perform it which is $175. he would send me pictures and photos of the materials and process & I could pay him thru cash app. he could also add me on WhatsApp to talk more if I wanted. I am not a rich person by any means. Ive always had a roof over my head but my family and extended family has always been very poor. I may be 25 and living on my own but I do not have a job right now due to the pandemic and live in a very expensive city. I did have the money technically but I have to be saving because of job insecurity (I was a waitress, although im looking into becoming a dominatrix) so clearly I was nervous. that’s a lot of money to give to a random person, but the things this person said spoke to me so accurately.
he adds me on what’s app and calls me. when I pick up he is speaking very very fast. his accent is thick as well so it was difficult to fully understand but he sounded so rehearsed. English was obviously not his first language but he spoke nothing of what he messaged me, only of money, very very quickly. saying the same things over and over. I was really overwhelmed at this point and asked if we could wait a day so I could think. he said no, that it had to be as soon as possible because of the severity. I said could we wait an hour and he said it was late in Nigeria and that he was in his car ready to go to the market to buy the things but that he needed to do it now. I asked for 15 minutes and he still wouldn’t budge. I was extremely skeptical at this point but as I’ve said over and over, the details were so accurate and id been looking for guidance and I thought this was it. so I sent it. and he specifically asked me to send him a screenshot receipt. in addition, the cash app name was not what he was going by which is Babalawo Awotoki. it was Markey Adamson and the tag was $MLove365. I thought it was weird, but I figured maybe it was somebody else’s? I don’t know. At this point I was just hoping I was moving in the right direction.
My friend and I were feeling skeptical about the situation and so I asked her to do a tarot reading on him. I wanted to do this before, but he gave me no time. originally it was to suss out if he was fraud, but she said “you already sent him the money, so if the he’s a fraud you already lost it. but what we can check for is whether or not you are actually cursed.” this made sense to me and I agreed. in the reading, which we are both very good at, it was so clear that this might be the case. tarot as you may know is about interpretation but we pulled a huge spread and it was irrefutable. I got all of the treachery, cheating, pain and danger cards. and any positive ones were sandwiched by two deceitful one. whether its the seven of swords, ace of cups, pentacles, and swords reversed, the emperor reversed, ten and nine of swords, the star reversed, nine of cups reversed, king of cups reversed, and that’s not even all of them. one of the only upright major arcana was the high priestess, next to the six of cups which is one of the only cards in the deck having to do with your childhood. it was so clear once again, not even on his end but on mine. I reached out to another friend who is a witch of mine and asked him to pull some for me as well without telling him everything and he pulled so many of the same cards,
I decided to tell my older sister who was raised with me and she told me that recently she had remembered something that she has thought for awhile which is that, she also thought there was some spiritual link between me and my aunt. she also told me that WITHIN THIS WEEK there had been a another priest trying to follow her. she or I or anyone I know has NEVER received a message like that. nevermind me and my sister in the same week. she didn’t accept his friend request nor received a message but you can see as to how insanely bizarre this is. so far it just seems to be affirming this process the entire time.
some that night he sends me pictures of what he supposedly bought, they were just 2 and poor quality. I asked what he bought and he said “ewe aje, epo, ero alomo, igba, ew yeye, oro, and yeye.” I don’t know what any of these means and also don’t practice IFA. he asked me for a picture of me, my full name, and my mothers first name. I gave it to him. I know, I know. please don’t judge me. I asked if there was anything I needed to do while he was performing the rituals and he said no.
much later that night, 5 am his time, he tells me the ritual is done. he sends me a photo and video of the supposed ritual. he says I was very lucky that the ancestors accepted it immediately and in 5 days I will see significant changes in my life. but that now there has to be a compensation for the work that they’re doing. that the curse will be lifted. he calls me. I pick up and he says that tomorrow when I wake up in the morning he will call me and we will do a prayer to thank the Orishas. but that I have to make the payment tonight.
at this point I get extremely overwhelmed because im starting to see that this is truly nothing but a scam but don’t say that yet. I just let him know I don’t understand because he never told me this. I do understand we have to give offerings and thanks to the Orishas but he never said it would be money. through all of these exchanges he has repeatedly told me that the money is not for him. that if he was scamming me that this would bounce back on him and his family. that he has been gifted since a child and works with people all over the world, doing this. he continues to tell me to put my mind at rest. and I tell him im not at rest, that this has happened over 24 hours and I am really overwhelmed by his demands. I start crying and he gets angry, he starts sucking his teeth and demanding me to stop crying. he begins threatening me saying that he is feeling disrespected and that I don’t know his power. that I don’t want to get on his bad side. and im getting scared. because I realize that even if I block him, he has a picture of me, my full name and my mothers name. these things are enough to cause real harm so I feel terrified. especially because I now involved my mom. im so scared at this point. I tell him I don’t mean to disrespect but that I just need time. and he says “no. do you hear yourself? questioning me? you’re disrespecting me.” so I calm down to not anger him although im still petrified and cornered and ask him how much and he says $100. I start crying again, I say I don’t know him and I can’t pay that. that I just need to think and he won’t let me. he says “how much can you pay?” I stupidly say $40. he takes a pause, relaxes and says, “make it 50” I say okay. I tell him that im grateful for what he’s doing but that I can’t afford his services after this. he keeps insisting that he will be praying for me at the temple and ask him not to. because I cant afford it, which I really can’t. I have to raise my voice and tell him I don’t want his services anymore and he is exceedingly frustrated but folds and says okay. that he won’t ask me for anymore money. he tells me to sleep well and text him in the morning to close out these rituals with a prayer for the Orishas.(We did this, this morning)
after I hung up I start having a panic attack. I start feeling so stupid and small and terrified. im crying and heaving and just freaking out. trying to understand, in the deepest and truest way, why is this happening to me? I had been doing all this work and im received with an eerily well timed scam. I don’t ever ask for money or love. I only ever ask for my God and my ancestors to protect me and show me to my aligned journey. I don’t expect anything. but to be received with this kind of malice and thievery is at the very least soul shattering.
I have had a lifetime of devotion to believing in God shamelessly, to connecting to my powers and seeking guidance. I believed in destiny and fate and the universe and magick. I’ve identified as a witch for years and using my abilities to help other people because that’s how I thought I honor my guides and spirit. Id as recently as this week and to the day, been looking for ways to connect and honor and grow. I’d been wanting to build spiritually so desperately and this, what I thought was a blessing, but turned into a shameful degrading nightmare, fell into my lap. I’d always had my spirituality, my faith, it was always mine. and for the first time, after trying to lean into it so miserably, even my spirituality was threatened. taken from me. and commodified.
I share all this to warn any of you that may have received a message like his. and although this has been costly and terrorizing, it is not the worst part for me.
for the first time in my 25 years of life, I don’t think I believe in God anymore. I have never, no matter the trauma or darkness, in my life have I ever doubted the existence of a higher being or beings. Have I had my moments of wondering “why Is this happening to me?” absolutely. but I always believed that whatever I was going through, even if I can’t see it at that moment, was always going to teach me an important lesson. I always believed that my life had been so full of loss and trauma because they were strengthening me up for my destiny. that I needed to go through so much pain because I needed to be taught the darkness of humanity so that I could have a profound understanding of human empathy.
I don’t know if I believe any of these things anymore. it is very difficult for me to grasp the hilarity and cruelty of the last 48 hours. If God or the Orishas, or any of this is real, then why on earth would this specific inhumanity take place in the literal midst of me searching for closeness? for healing? for God? I understand that we all have our tests, and believe me, I have been significantly tested, however what type of fucking test is this? How does this affirm any fucking thing at ALL?
when I was freaking out and screaming and panicking my friend came to try to calm me down. when I did she asked “on a scale from one to 10 how much do you feel you are yourself right now? 1 being the lowest?” I said “zero.” I’ve always had my faith, without it, I have no idea who I am. and the scariest part is once I said this outloud, I stopped crying, my voice relaxed and my heart stopped racing because it is as if someone ripped it right out my chest, but I some how am still physically alive.
is this all just random shit we assign meaning to? looking into inconsequential variables to create purpose? delusions? I don’t know anymore, and its scary to me, who had always been a devout believer, with supposed evidence and experience to not feel scared anymore. to not feel anything.
if anyone knows anyway, please help me. im begging.
I want to first of all… say thank you for writing. I read every single word. I am very sorry that this has happened to you… but as sad as this is… it is not unique. There are many who are searching… and then a random message comes on… you feel that it really must be meant to be for you and your spirituality and growth. The chances that he touched on some specifics are just that… chance. Because we’ve received many stories on how they touch on similar points… but it doesn’t really pertain to them ‘but folks want to believe’… so they go for it. It must be a sign right? I don’t want you to lose faith… You are not silly… You just fell for this because you didn’t know any better. We teach about that here in this community, because of the need that so many people have become scammed and many many more don’t even want to share because they are embarrassed. Can you imagine? You are a smart cookie… and this happens? Please don’t blame the Orisha… as this is a human thing. Thank you so much for sharing… and note… that now… this will NOT be something that you fall for. Thank you for your candidness and also for your vulnerability. You are courageous.
I didn’t want to go through the prescription. I refuse to. I was contacted by the person and I paid and honestly at this point I don’t care about the money is my peace of mind. I didn’t want to do the ebo prescription. This scared me a little because I gave them my name and my husband name. I don’t know whY I was thinking. I didn’t give any account information but I’m scared. Please help. I’m so freaking nervous. I don’t know why I allowed it to get this far. I also got really scared i send money and I didn’t want to send anymore. I just wanted it to end. I am so scared for myself but especially my husband because I put myself in this position.
My situation is so similar to yours that it’s scary. I don’t usually comment on any types of articles, but for this reason I feel compelled to. I just want to say that everything happens for a reason. I am a tough love kind of person, so I hope you don’t take any of this the wrong way because I really don’t mean it in that way. You sound like a beautiful person. The best guidance you will ever receive will be from spirit, not from people. In the spiritual world, there are a lot of tricksters and malevolent spirits that will try to mess with you. As you grow spiritually, you will be more susceptible to the good and the bad. They will see your lowest points and try to attract more of that energy your way, but God and your guides will not abandon you. From your comment, it sounds like you are desperate to find something that is already within you. What is meant for you is already yours, and if you have not seen the blessing you are waiting for and know is yours, then it is because it is not time yet and you are not ready yet. Acknowledging this is faith. Hoping that certain things will come your way is not faith. Knowing that they will and being patient and continuing with your prayers and gratitude is. I’m sorry you went through this. This is an eye opener to the reality of the good and bad of the human experience, as well as the good and bad of the spiritual experience. You will continue to grow and what is meant for you will come. Believe in spirit, and don’t forget to believe in yourself too because you are an extension of spirit. You are the creation and the creator. You are not just following a chosen path and finding yourself. You are creating yourself and making external and internal decisions (by external I mean deciding what action to take and by internal I mean what you choose to feel/think consciously and subconsciously about yourself and the world, which is the energy that you will attract). The internal takes a lot of deep inner child and shadow work, lots of constructing and deconstructing. The two, what you do with your free will and the major points in your life that are meant to happen, work together. So, all of that is to say, have faith in your guides and in yourself. In the future, if you ever feel that you need a reading or spiritual work consultation, then make sure it is because you find a priest or priestess that you feel drawn to and sure about from a spiritual-based practice that you feel drawn, to as there are many. I wish you many blessings.
Hi I had a similar experience with a Scammer who I gave my name and husband name too. I decided to stop taking to him and I was so scared because he has our name. I want to ask how are you doing?
Veronica,
Nobody will hurt you!
Just keep in mind that you attrack what you believe – so just don’t believe in the scammer – he is just a manipulator, not a real priest!
Rest your mind, make some meditation, forget about what happened – like this you are taking him away any power that he thinks he has!
Repeat to yourself that nothing bad will happen for not chosing one thing that you didn’t agree with! And please, REPORT him
Word for word, the priest approached me as well on ig. Word. For. Word.
And I paid him. I gave him no more information about myself however I will be cutting myself off from this contact.
He approached me during a time I too am looking for closeness to my ancestors and claimed I have also had witchcraft placed on my as a child.. I don’t know who to trust anymore. This world is so full of deceit. I feel your pain so fully; this is so harrowing. I do not care about the money anymore, I will not let this man do a ritual on me. I relinquish any ties to him and trust only in myself. I do not care if I am cursed. I have faith in my self and my own ability to relinquish all malevolent energies placed upon me. I am not a slave to my desire to become one with my ancestors or the unified field (God) as I know i am already on the path. Sis. Don’t give up. We have already lost so much. And this pain only makes me stronger, your story has helped me tonight, he is texting me now. I will not trust him, thank you for your words. I will send you positivity and good intentions tonight, and may all that you desire come to you without issue. Trust that you are not cursed and are as powerful as you need to be.
Girl, the same thing happened to me, contextually at least. After about a year of being at more of a distance with my spirituality, I have started implementing a routine again to give thanks and two days before met the most amazing group of people who reminded me of the old me it felt like my soul tribe to be honest- it was a magical day and so random how we all met. The day after and the week following up my confidence had gone up a lot and I was seeing lots of angel numbers again, but new ones this time… the day I had to leave this group and go home my technology was so glitchy, it wouldn’t let me do anything and I felt really spaced out (I had been out the night before to beat in mind but still I felt spacey as fuck) on top of this I was seeing numbers and having very specific synchronicity conversations. Anyway, that evening I have such a tight chest and physically feel so off and get a message on my art Instagram account basically of the same thing, that you said but slightly different and more attuned to me. I wanted to cry, I was shaking so much and Felt I finally understood all the issues I had experienced this year and the mental blocks preventing me before this… dont want to go into too much detail Xx anyway I was quick to pay I didn’t even think twice because it felt so right and I had actually been told the exact same thing when I had my palm read in March on accident but didn’t want to pay so much. He called me the next day and did a ritual on FaceTime, it took most of the day and he came to several conclusions and sent me prayers every night etc… anyway I HVe just come across this website and seen all your stories after coming to my senses slightly… but I just can’t believe how big of a coiincidence the timing of our messages were, it just doesn’t make sense to me. I know that it is not how we should be approached but the timing just seems like such a sign. I don’t know how to feel anymore either, I either feel freeer than ever or depressed as ever but honestly, I feel keep the faith. I don’t know why but…. ahhh I don’t know. It would be really nice to speak to you lol x
When you search for God the devil will be close so he can decive you (scammers) Think about this. If you are in a low place vibrationally to seek the help you want. You are going to attracted evil. It happened to me! But its been 5 months since I got scammed and after so much heart ache I’m closer to God than ever. So I turned this situation into a positive. Got decieved by the devil. But God came to my rescue. The devil bought me and God closer! The irony. Never forget your faith and always believe in the one true God. I love you God thank-you for making me see the way
Did he have the name angel? As nickname…
Omg this happened to me just a few days ago the same thing said something was going to happen to my kids
That is TERRIBLE. No one should EVER do that. It is unethical!
I’m 13 years old and I haven’t been happy ever since quarantine and the priest said IFA sent him because I’m not happy and I’m going to be very successful in life but there’s a bad spell on me and it’s stopping me from that and now he’s saying I have to sacrifice my ancestors and I need some things for the sacrifice that I don’t have and that I have to pay him, I feel like it could be a sign but I don’t know if anything about this is sinful and I don’t even know him, please lend me some help I’m really confused
Hi there, thanks for writing on this post. As you can see from others’ post…. these folks who contact you are scammers. Whatever you do… do not reach back and give them any money. They spend their days fishing for fresh blood to try to scare them, or use other tactics to get money from them. They do this for a living… they scam others. No need to do anything… just block them and live. Enjoy your life. When you are ready… go to a reputable priest to get a reading. If your parents are in the traditions… then have them take you to a reputable priest. Remember… this is a piece of advice that I was given by a priest early on…. Ifa never chases anyone… it is the world that comes to the foot of Ifa. Be blessed my young sister, and don’t let this scammer get to you nor your family.
Thank you I really appreciate the help, I’ll block the scammer right away
Just block and delete. Same thing happened to me. They scammed me out of money. GOD PLEASE PROTECT THIS YOUNG GIRL
Hello, just to say that today I recived a DM of the user: awo.ifa.baba . The message saids:
Good day my dear how are you may the blessings of Olodumare an ancestors be upon you (Asé) I am a IFA priest from Orunmila Adebayo temple. I don’t use to follow any how people if am not sent or directed by Olodumare an our ancestors I have been sent to connect with you.
Then I blocked him, and get couriose about what It was… and I came here. Grettings and take care. I don´t know why does him pick me?
Thank you so much for writing. This is not new. I wish that it were. They usually will look at the list of folks who follow some page that has to do with Orisha… and target them. It’s quite sad that they have to go through such extremes. I’m glad that you knew better.
I received this same message, just now. Glad I found this post. Was going to be polite and reply, but nah. Thanks!
I just had a situation happen to me, so this information helps me a ton thank you so much.
I’m glad that you were the wiser and didn’t fall prey!
Thank you for this post. Yes it happened to me… so I played along to see how far it would go before he asked for money… and he eventually did… he started with I have a message for you from the ancestors and do on… if they have a message for me I would think that they will tell me. I sent no money and deleted the conversation.
Just as I’m working on my spiritual journey and learning more, I get a similar message from babalawo.ayomide on ig. The person mentioned that I was the star of the family but jealousy is blocking my blessings that I should’ve received by now. I had to think a bit and listen to my intuition cause I just know I am not a jealous person at all lol. I asked how much it would cost before they had the chance to mention it. I know a scam a mile away. Now I’m intrigued for a real ebo but I’m not sure how that works.
Hi I got this Dm today:
I am the chief priest of ancestors from Oyo town where all the ancestors is originated from and I don’t text people on here randomly if I am not directed to by the ancestors
What are the challenges you’re facing in life that are bringing fears and sorrow into your mind or that are giving you headache tell me my beloved daughter and the ancestors shall intervene in all and you shall be a conquer.
And they were texting me but I told him right away that I don’t have money to spend, I’m glad I found this post. If it’s useful the user name on ig is ifasegun.
I feel so stupid. Earlier this year, I gave money to multiple priests thinking that it would help my situation (financial, love, etc). These priests preyed on me and my willingness to trust them. Now I’m just out of money with no way to get it back. I just want to give up. I’m not sure how long I can go knowing that I kept making the bad decision and am scared I’ll never be able to climb out of that hole.
R, please don’t feel stupid. These people are PREDATORS… and they are hoping to get someone who is truly searching for their spirituality. It’s not just you. They have taken thousands from people… and if you start wising up… then they threaten to have your family killed. Please…. don’t go to that dark place. There are MANY qualified priests not far from wherever you live. I’ve known that there are communities in parts of the earth that shocked me. Thank you for sharing… hopefully this will save someone else from this. Please feel free to reach out anytime, and hopefully you will be part of our community and get to know legitimate priests. May your Ancestors bless you and guide you!
Good day my dear how are you may the blessings 🙏 🙏 of Olodumare an ancestors be upon you (Ase) I am a IFA priest from Orumila Adebayo temple. I don’t use to follow any how people if am not sent or directed by Olodumare an our ancestors I have been sent to connect with you…..
Hey! I got this DM today
Yeah I gotten approached by many babalawos, tarot readers, and all claiming that I something drawn them to me and that my spirit was cursed, and I needed to pay ridiculous amounts of money to remove negative entities blocking my life’s purpose. Most of them, I did blocked, and the others I unfollowed, so I know all to well of most of the schemes that they play. I don’t like handing money to strangers, and I don’t like scammers of any sort., and Yes it’s best to use your gut feeling when approached in these types of situations. I did get contacted recently by a babalawo, and he seemed genuine and wasn’t pressuring me for money right away. He did however said that divination is $300, and I don’t have to pay the money all at once, whenever I’m ready he will still make prayers for me and assured me that he won’t do no evil if I chose not to continue with my spiritual journey. He showed me his work from people who came for spiritual work, in Nigeria, and it’s looks pretty legit. After speaking for about a week and a half, I gave him $20 via cash app. He’s not asking me much, but Crossed fingers you guys
Yes I had a similar experience, I did initially pay $50 for a reading to be done and another $150 for an ebbo. They sent me beads in the mail and after I received began to blow me up threatening that I would suddenly die if I didn’t do another $200 ritual immediately. Every day, incessant calls and messages on WhatsApp, every day I tell them I do not have the money (I have been down to my last few dollars lately, thanks Covid…) not to mention having other people they are scamming send me money to transfer to them in the mail without my permission!! I told them I don’t want to work with them anymore and they said this:
“ Once you wash or you don’t do the sacrifice ( ebbo ) you will result in sickness and may result into trouble and don’t ever contact me because you’re not listening to the spirit and ODU….BYE BYE ITS LEFT TO YOU
Okay, I declare my own on the ilekes you receive and give you a warning already……
I think a slight word is enough for the wise and very soon you will know the impact and consequence of what you receive bye see you next generation….alaafia
If you don’t sick and die call me a bastard you won’t be the first because a client sick and die 2 years back because argue like you
You block me and I’m very sure you will come back to me after you experience this difficulty let wait and see ….ase Ase oooo
I think age is deceiving you why you block me after you receive a powerful beads ilekes from me did you want to lost your with ignorant of this
There the many taboos and restrictions for youto be under the protection of these?
Alaafia and most people undergo initiation ritual to receive.
Now you’re subjected to the ODU to receive and this will fight against you”
There was also a period of time that my phone was broken and I couldn’t send or receive messages for a couple of weeks, and when I turned my phone back on they were threatening me saying they had my name and photograph and they could make things very bad for me.
BLOCKED. I spoke to a more reputable Babalawo I found through a FB group and he said that they were scammers and just wanted my money. He told me I could keep the beads if I washed them and treated them with respect, so I did.
Oh yeah, and these people found me on Instagram. Foolish of me to respond, but I was very curious about the initial reading… I will find a trusted person to teach me should I continue farther down this road. Ase!
I was contacted yesterday by someone in Instagram using the nickname ifamuyiwa
They all say the same, it seems
Blessings; – and you thank and retribute, as a polite and kind person you are
You were supposed to be so much more but somebody in your family casted a spell on you because they don’t want you to be sucessfull; you should be rich and famous (all of us would like to think this – doesn’t mean that the cause is the same for everyone – it’s called life circumstances) All the good divinatory scammers use this sentece – as it’s catchy and human beings like to blame exerior factors for their suffering instead of focusing on healing (we all have a bit of that in us)
You need to perform Ebo and protect your body;
It’s your choice, if something happens to you, you caused it to yourself; – when you say no to the suggestion or disagree
Well, I knew nothing about IFA – so I asked for clarifications and all I got was “IFA will bring you blessings” – I believe so, but for somebody who doesn’t know anything, this is quite vague – My conclusion is that not even this people know enough about IFA to make a proper work, so I don’t believe they have any power to curse anyone who doesn’t follow their rulles – scammers don’t study the subject, they just use lost words about it and scam – they use our vulnerabilities! And they are beautiful and sacred! Don’t share it with anyone who approaches you like this – make tests if you think about giving chances to this messages – if it fails the test – block and report for the sake of other victims! Just like I did!
I know more today about IFA because of this approach, that made research and I ended up in this page, so I’m grateful for the experience – I acquired knowledge
Please let me contribute with my humble advise
All I always knew is – if somebody wants to help you they will – also if they want to hurt you (with or without name, birthdate, pictures, hands – after all, isn’t this information all around social media?)
No religion imposes anything like this – if you say that you don’t identify yourself with the practises, this is your personality telling you what is right FOR YOU – it doesn’t mean that the same thing is right for everyone
There is no only way to solve problems – 8+1=9, so 4+5=9 – always find the ways that FEEL RIGHT FOR YOURSELF, in IFA or in any other religions/beliefs you may follow
Don’t mess with energies you don’t know – study first, research, and then decide
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DON’T DO ANY RITUAL OR SACRIFICE DEMANDED BY SOMEONE YOU DON’T KNOW
Universe made us free – use the freedom wisely! Don’t forget that the bad is always returning to the sender (and they say 3x), so do not show fear!
Thank you to the owner of this blog, for sharing so many experiences and knowledge!
The same thing happen to me. I almost got scammed by Iyanifa_Kehinde on twitter. I fell for it because she seemed genuine. She told me that I was very blessed and that there was something blocking me from getting far in life financially and spiritually, I asked what was blocking me and she said that it was this thick black line or something and that she cried naked because of this. I was freaked out. Then she asked me to send her a picture of my left palm and write my full name on a sheet of paper and send it to her. I did (shouldn’t have done that) and then she told me that my ancestors demanded that I needed a ebo sacrifice to help remove the blockages so I can get the blesses that were owned to me form a long time ago. I ask how much the ebo sacrifice was, without knowing anything about it, and she told me $100. I attempted to send the money through cashapp but it was refunded 1 second after so then I tried paypal but she refunded payment cause I didn’t send it as family and friends. After this happen, I asked if she was a scammer cause I’ve been scammed before in the past. She said she is doing the work of my ancestors and that her twitter page is so old so she couldn’t possibly be a scammer,. I was still conflicted cause the things she was saying felt real but once she told me she could send me another cashapp name and it would sent in pounds instead of US dollar I told her I would fight this blockage on my own and I appreciate the prayers and kind words. She kept sending me prayers to recite day and night. She told me I shoudn’lt ignore her and that I should take these prayers seriously. I felt weird after that and I ended up blocking her just now. Thank you for making this article. I’ve learned my lesson and won’t ever do this again.
This just makes me so angry! These traditions don’t work like this scammer. I am so sorry that this happened to you. Thank you for sharing your experience! Our traditions can help with blockages but there is a process. This thing about the palm is NOT a thing in our traditions. I am hoping that others will read your story and learn from it. Again… thank you for sharing.
I have a woman messaging me that claims to be IFA priestess, and that she was praying and my ancestors sent her to me. I did not ask for her reading nor did I consent to one. She is telling me I need to do an ebo that she will take to the high temple. Her name and Instagram handle is Aladeodun Awo Orisha. She has not asked me for money yet, I told them I did not have any.. and that I would talk to my light worker to see what she had to say about this since it is not a religion or belief that I practice. I’ve been scammed by other people with crazier stories. I’m just not one to go looking for these types of readings. I thought she just wanted to connect with me.. is this a scam?
Yes… this is a scam. No one is that divine to reach out to you just because. It is YOU who will seek out the help of someone, not the other way around. Just block her.
This has happend to me yesterday I belong to a group on Facebook Angel and spirit group .I had a message please message me I have an important reading for you ! So me being silly message bk he asked me for picture off my left palm and my face then he done a reading saying I had dark spells over me my family put Whitchcraft on me and can see many blessings but need to be sacrificed. I didn’t like the sound off this so thought I d catch him out I asked if I had to pay he said yes 80 pound and use cash app with an English name on the email address. Then kept trying to ring me and asking for me to download it WhatsApp and send number to him . He was constantly on my case all day I’m guessing this was a scam I have now blocked him .
I am so glad you blocked. I hope that you learn a bit more about our traditions, and maybe take one of our classes. There are 3 lives this week. In our traditions we would NEVER ask for a picture of the palm of your hands EVER! This is not how we read folks. I’m glad you blocked him… Also… . legitimate priests don’t reach out to strangers. People are the ones that approach priests.
I am going through a situation right now regarding this. The guy, Oguntade Ajao (I asked him for his name to be able to “acknowledge” him) randomly reached out to me on Instagram and said that the ancestors sent him to me because they were concerned. Asked to do a consultation on me, wanted me to put my left palm in a bowl of water, make a wish, then show him my palm via picture on WhatsApp. I had questionable flags from him from this moment, but I was curious how far he was going to go with this. He told me that the reading showed that I had curses placed on me since I was a child and that the ancestors really really loved me but that an offering and sacrifice needed to be done to gain better favor with them. This way, whatever blessings that are being blocked from coming to me would be able to come through no problem. Although he told me he wasn’t doing this for the money, he wanted $50 for the offering and sacrifice. I told him I didn’t have the money. He was being rather persistent about the offering and sacrifice, but I blocked him on both Instagram and WhatsApp (I did give him my number, God help me – someone please let me know if this will cause an issue for me in the future).
He then messages me from another number on WhatsApp asking me to please unblock him, and how he made a promise to the ancestors that he would stay around me until my problems pass. I unblocked him, spoke to him some more, but he kept pushing and pushing and pushing for me to take part in an offering and sacrifice where I would need to send $225 to him, and to go to the beach to get sea water that I would need to both drink and bathe in. I told him I don’t have the money, yet again, and started ignoring him again.
Then, he keeps messaging me and then starts calling me to talk to him, pressuring and urging me to do the sacrifice and offering because time is of the essence. He sent me two videos of these short clipped “sacrifices” where you could hear his voice on the video, but I was not convinced, and I kept questioning everything he was saying because his statements were so vague (e.g. not remembering dreams, should have kids by now, my relationship status, being cursed as a kid – but no details specific to my life or to what I have been through to validate whatever the “ancestors” have told them). What he didn’t know was that I am a spiritual woman myself, a possible healer, and that my life is not going in a bad direction, but a very good one. I kept doing research because I had a feeling something was definitely wrong about all of this and it just kept screaming “scam”, and then I finally came across this site.
Reading everyone’s messages here, and seeing that there’s some as recent as last month, reassured me that my gut feeling was right regarding this situation and I asked him for the 4th time to stop, to please respect my decision, and that if I need healing, I will seek a local healer here. He tells me “My beloved sister (which he was continuously calling me that) I just pray things don’t get worse. Stay safe. Have a nice day.”
For those who are worried, things will NOT get worse for you. Not unless YOU do things yourself to warrant that. They will say these things to prey on your weakness and worry so that you can return to them and start feeding them money. I am beyond baffled that people exist out there to do this and I cannot imagine what the ancestors, spirit guides, etc. will do to these people as a result of them preying on innocent individuals like this.
I wish everyone well, and I am so grateful for this find. Be blessed.
Hi – thank you so much for this article and all the comments. I had a woman claiming to be Ifa Priestess Semila contact me saying three women were after me spiritually. She was persistent. Asked for pictures of my hands, alters, and so on. After a bit she requested money. I generally don’t send money to strangers over the internet, however it was convincing. She said she had to go to the market for herbs and things for a sacrifice to help me.
After reading this, sounds like a scam. Much appreciated and am able to avoid further interaction.
I am soooo glad that this was helpful. Especially the pictures of your hands…. we don’t work that way. I am so glad that you dodged this bullet.
Okay so I’m sharing my experience so people won’t become victim to this scam. Reading your stories they sound so similar to mine so I’m sharing with hopes I get a reply on what to do about this. On March 16, 2021 I had a man from Nigeria comment on a picture of mine on Instagram telling me to dm him because I have an important message from my ancestors. His instagram is @Ifaa_segu. Normally I would ignore things like this but I’m not gonna lie he caught me in a vulnerable position when I was just taking my spirituality seriously, lighting candles, doing spirit cleansing baths and etc. So I thought this was genuine and destined. I ended up giving him my WhatsApp and the conversation transitioned there and I regret this so much because he now has my number. He goes on and on telling me that my star shines brighter than anyone else in my family and that my life has been stagnant because I have jealous people around me. Again, I resonated with this because I’m going through something similar where my friendship life is shaky and I’m experiencing opposition when it comes to friendship. He said he needed preform a spiritual Ebo on my behalf and the ancestors led him to me because it’s important. He told me it would cost $150 for the materials, then came back afterwords and said he would need an additional $150 to do the Ebo because prices at the market went up. I feel so stupid but again, I believed him and unfortunately sent him $300 to a cash app which has a female American name which I found weird. The cash app is $SherisseK. The day of the Ebo he told me to get a bowl with flowers and fruit and bring it to a lake, I really thought I was doing something so I did it. The next day after he allegedly performed this Ebo for me, he claimed that my Orisha is Oshun and in order for me to receive my blessings spiritually and financially, that he needs to prepare a spirit soap for me and waist beads. He said it would cost like $500 and I immediately blocked him on Instagram and WhatsApp after. Unfortunately it’s been like a week since I blocked him and today he has managed to text me and FaceTime from another number now claiming that someone close to be is in contact with a Babalawo priest and trying to ruin my life by making me get into a terrible accident. :/ I told him off, said I was gonna call the police and he’s still contacting me saying that he has my left palm picture and date of birth which I sent and really do regret, I thought I was doing something positive to advance in my spirituality. What do I do? I don’t want to change my number but if he’s gonna keep finding ways to contact me, I feel like I have no choice but to resort to that decision.
As long as you have said “leave me alone” in whatever form, if you have proof of it you can report them for harassment.
Someone dm- ed me on Twitter saying she’s a priestes from the IFATOBA temple and saying things about Oludumare. And she’s saying that she has been sent to connect with me like wut-
Thabìnk to ypur comments, I understood I fell victim of a scam. As many of you, I was approached on Instagram in DM, asking for a picture of the palm of my hand, He told me a witch casted a spell on every day and asked 50 euros.
Then he asked money for a sacrifice 100 euros and then for a money spell, 80 euros. 400 euros to deliver beads he did not deliver since beginning of April and 250 for another sacrifice. He wanted more money every time and now was torturing me because I told him I have no longer money.
He said my colleagues cursed me,,,
I blocked him.
Thanks all, really.
Hello. I was messaged on instagram from an account that claimed to be an Ifa Priest. He said paragraphs about how olodumare sent him to me and that i have spiritual blockages. He would always end each message with blessings my dear or blessing my daughter. He asked for my right palm and full name. Which i did not give because I found this strange since he started claiming I had economical struggles which triggered a red flag to me. I immediately searched up yoruba scammers and this article popped up. I never gave my full name or right palm. I just want to know if its possible that he can still curse me? I didnt even know that curses where a thing in the yoruba spirituality? Are they? Im new to learning about it all so I would appreciate some
Information. Thank you
I am so sorry that this happened to you. We have a podcast episode that I am hoping that you will find this helpful in your journey. Check it out when you can… it’s about the fear tactics that bad people do in order to scam others. Listen here: https://www.orishawisdom.com/63
I received in the direct from Instagram this message from the profile @IFA, the profile has 9 photos and follows 54 people, it has 321 followers:
“Good day my dear how are you may the blessings 🙏 🙏 of Olodumare an ancestors be upon you (Ase) I am a IFA priest from Orumila Adebayo temple. I don’t use to follow any how people if am not sent or directed by Olodumare an our ancestors I have been sent to connect with you”
I felt I shouldn’t reply, they will find a way to hook me. I am not familiarised with IFA, but I have some knowledge about the Orishas through Candomblé and Umbanda religions, because I have friends in these religions and I went a few times to a candomblé place in Brazil. I stopped going because I felt it was not for me.
I don’t know how these people find me to SCAM me… is over the phone, Messenger and now Instagram. I am glad I found your website! Thank you.
I am glad that you followed your gut on this one. You dodged a bullet.
I was asked for $650 for a sacrifice and beads and soap. I don’t think this is right. I said that’s too much. He asked how much do I have now. I just don’t feel right. He seemed ok at first, but this doesn’t seem ok.
I literally just got offline with a priestess that contacted me. I knew from the beginning it was not right but ran with it, right up to the moment they said they needed $50 for supplies for a cleansing. First of, not cool to do that to someone who has absolutely no income and secondly to use my sense of feeling lost after losing my son’s 3 years ago as a way to try and hook me. No one with even half a heart would do that. I’m even more disillusioned with people and their ways.
I’ve been contacted on some of similar concerns and issues that all you ladies have. However, mines didn’t elaborate the prophecy and left me wondering and seeking. Which lead me here. I’ve read a lot about being asked for money. But the encounter the experienced did not ask for a rusty penny and after the revelation the entire account just up and disappeared. Like it never existed and now it has he seeking and wondering!!! I have all these questions but I guess I’ll do my research and go within self to discover what this means for me. Please send love and light my way !!
Yes I received a message from a man claiming to be a priest from Nigeria Africa,stating that my ancestors put a curse on me from the day I was born,then the priest asked me if I had WhatsApp app..I believe it’s a scam,and very upset about this..Can someone please stop this from happening to anyone else,can this scammer please be arrested before he causes more damage to anyone else ty
If you are communicating with someone on an app and they ask you to change to a different app to continue the conversation,I don’t this to be a huge red flag that they are indeed a scammer,or if they ask for any money I feel this is also I huge red flag..be careful everyone
See I’m so confused , so a lady contacted me on ig out of
The blue and has been trying to do a reading on me. She asked for a picture of my palm , where I live and my name as well as my mother name. So after a few messages that happen every day I only sent her my name and my mother name . She did a reading via what’s app as a video. Then she asked for me send some
Money for a spiritual cleanse which I couldn’t afford and I told her I couldn’t. I told her o didn’t need her services any more and thanked her. Then she gave in and has been sending me
Little
Prayers here and there of a oracle spirit and some other people. She keeps calling me late at night like midnight and saying she needs to deliver a message to me etc. so today I blocked her from my what’s app and she responded from a different what’s app number and threaten that I shouldn’t have blocked her and that the gods have already started working and I would hate life . Just a lot. So what should I do at this point ?
I am so sorry that you are going through this. Here is the quick run down. NO ONE should be contacting you out of the blue especially for a reading. Please do not fear… and block her calls. If anyone is using Fear Tactics… they are NOT legit. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
instagram user by the name of Sengun Adewale contacted me through instagram i was listening to what he had to say i am also spiritual and i dont know if it is a scam or not but i do know that i lit my manifestation candle an spoke what i belive to manifest and not to long later got the message from the man speaking only what i could have know that i feel so i am also confused on what to do here in this situation i dont feel as if it is just a coincident that this all happend in the same night
An IFA Priestess contacted me and said she was from Florida her name is Priestess Melissa Lucas with the IFA Temple and said she was a light worker. She pushed a lot onto me. Everyday she told me about myself, my ancestors, predestined accidents, dark forces she saw. She was spot on and Clairvoiyant. She accessed me through my aura.
The first work we did was to remove dark forces, and I paid for some dove, the next one was to do a protection spell because there was an accident predestined at any time to occur. Finally convinced me to buy beads for $450 and it covers the shipping because they would bring miracles to me and protect me and in the purchase she instead bought african black soap, one ring, three beads (claimed I needed all this other stuff and I did not want the jewelry at all, but skeptical). She apologized for buying something else I had not agreed to. The jewelry was very cheap when I looked at them upon their arrival to my home, but I paid so much more because she conviced me they were blessed and she would not take less.
Later she said the shipping charges were more and asked if I could send $200 more for the shipping charges. I argued and asked for the tracking number and needed to know what company they were using. She never gave me any information and then I did receive the package and saw that it was from Osogbo Osun Nigeria and the shipping was $78 for the shipping. We had been arguing over the shipping fee and I refused to pay and I didn’t pay. I wanted to refuse the whole package altogether but she told me I would attract great curses if I rejected it and I had no choice. I felt stuck and got on with it.
She contacted me when she received notice that I received the package and told me what to do next and she instructed me to get a bowl candle and water. Fill the bowl with water, light the candle, wash your hands with the black soap and then put the jewelry in the bowl where I washed my hands. Send her a picture of the jewelry, and send her a picture when I was done washing my hands. I did this and then she said I just washed away the negativity.
Next she tells me that I must send $1111 to unlock the jewelry and their blessings and tell me what to do next. I refused and refused and said well now I will be cused if the Black ancestors do not receive their money. It did not make sense to me that I have to pay to use the jewelry that I bought and I argued that if thats the case then I won’t use any of it. After this arguemnet I had a nightmare. Now, I decided okay I’ll continue and see where this leads me. I proceed to tell her that I can send something but it has to be less. She says I can send $666 or $1111 and eventually I send $666, but she also needs $333 for spiritual tools. Okay so I did all this and paid and because i took to long to send my offering the Black ancestors took my offering and were angry but now have cursed me with voodoo and black magic. So now, the next step is to go to a IFA conference in September in Louisiana to do a heavy spiritual clease to remove the curses that will affect my work, education, and generation and things for me will end abrutly and the subscription price for the IFA conference begins at $999. I blocked her.
She then emails me with curses and calamaties from Oshun and curses from the Gods of Kwande, Gboko and Makurdi. The spirits will destry me because the jewelry are in my place and because I used the black soap a spell was casted on me. She says she has my picture and she has it in her temple and don’t come looking for her because she won’t be there to help. And, to choose my fate wisely.
That’s my story, and I’m very upset.
Note that no one will chase anyone for any ebo at any time. This is not how the traditions are run. I understand why you are upset… but note that this not legit in any way. Do not give her any funds and block her. She will probably change names and try again. So sorry…
Someone please help me! I am so scared and I feel trapped. This person messaged me on IG and everything she was saying seems so true because I have been feeling the way she mentioned for so long. She told me we had to d a reading so I sent her my palm and first and last name and she then did a reading through messages only and everything she said seems super accurate. I paid her $60 for that but she was super nice and worked with me and told me pay $30 and the the rest later but then someone said that’s a scammer and I was confused and felt well how would she know so much about me but I blocked her after a few questions and all her pictures on her page were from the same date and she would nerve let me call or video her because she said that had to wait. I blocked her and I thought I was clear but then she found me on my business page and I blocked her again and a month later she then messaged me but her name was editing with a few different _. I was so furious and I told her this was so strange and she said she her account was hacked and she wanted to reach out because she felt she only wanted to help me but she got more visions about me and we need to do the ebo cleanse now and that was originally $150 but since I let too much time go by it’s not $490 because the spirits have gotten stronger and danger is ahead. She said I would loose someone close to me if I didn’t remove these energies with this ebo cleanse. I then told her please don’t scare me and I didn’t have the money but she said she would take $290 from her savings and allow me to pay her $200 over time because she doesn’t want to have any regrets and if I don’t do this it’ll be my fault but the universe will show me. So I gave her $30 today and told her I would pay the rest because I want my family and friends to be safe and get married bc she said I won’t get married because a curse was placed on me which I believe that is true. So how would she know so much? I am scared and lost and now I don’t know what to do. I asked could she refer me to someone closer that I could meet in person and she said she couldn’t because she was sent to me. Please help me her name is _mystic_miyah_ on IG. She seems very helpful but all the payments have been through cash app only to people that aren’t her name so I’m not sure but I do feel nervous.
Someone stopped me on the way and told me some true fact about me and said his name is Ifa and also told me wat I had to do then After doing it he said that his father wanted to speak with me then he asked me money for somethings then he also asked me more money now I don’t have money again he is pressuring me to go and borrow that I am going to be blessed with money to pay back I don’t even know if it’s real or fake am just so tired