cover of episode Bad Fortune: Two Tales of Psychic Scammers

Bad Fortune: Two Tales of Psychic Scammers

2024/12/20
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@Katie @Whitney : 本集讲述了两个关于算命骗子的真实案例。第一个案例是关于赛斯·托比亚斯的死亡,他的妻子菲洛米娜被怀疑谋杀了他,但最终未被指控。自称赛斯妻子私人助理兼通灵师的比利·阿什声称菲洛米娜用安眠药毒死了赛斯,并提供了许多细节,但这些指控最终未能成立。调查人员认为比利·阿什的证词不可靠,因为他有诈骗前科,并且试图敲诈赛斯。 赛斯和菲洛米娜的婚姻关系非常复杂和充满冲突,这使得案件更加扑朔迷离。菲洛米娜的挥霍无度和与比利·阿什的关系都成为了案件的焦点。尽管比利·阿什的指控在媒体上引起了轩然大波,但最终检方没有足够的证据指控菲洛米娜犯下任何罪行。 第二个案例是关于通灵师吉娜·玛丽·马克斯的诈骗。私家侦探鲍勃·奈加德调查了吉娜·玛丽·马克斯的诈骗案,她多次诈骗受害者,最终被判刑。吉娜利用受害者在感情和家庭方面的脆弱,以诅咒为由骗取巨额钱财。鲍勃·奈加德锲而不舍地追查吉娜,最终将她绳之以法。吉娜的诈骗行为严重损害了受害者的利益,也暴露了算命骗子的卑劣行径。 Katie 和 Whitney: 本集案例揭示了算命骗子如何利用人们的弱点和心理需求进行诈骗,以及执法部门在调查此类案件时面临的挑战。同时,也展现了私家侦探在打击犯罪中的重要作用。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What was the cause of Seth Tobias' death, and what were the initial suspicions?

Seth Tobias was found dead in his backyard pool, initially suspected to be an overdose or drowning due to his history of cocaine use and alcohol consumption. The coroner pronounced him dead at the scene, but the definitive cause of death required further investigation through an autopsy.

Who was Billy Ash, and what role did he play in Seth Tobias' life?

Billy Ash was a self-proclaimed psychic who claimed to have advised celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Nancy Reagan. He became involved with Seth Tobias' wife, Phyllis, charging her $2,500 a month for readings. He later attempted to extort $156,000 from Seth, threatening to expose his personal secrets if he didn't pay.

What allegations did Billy Ash make about Phyllis Tobias after Seth's death?

Billy Ash accused Phyllis Tobias of murdering Seth by crushing Ambien into his spaghetti sauce and drowning him in their pool. He claimed Phyllis confessed this to him and even alleged she paid a voodoo priestess to hex Seth. However, investigators found his story unreliable due to his criminal history and lack of evidence.

What was the outcome of the legal battle over Seth Tobias' estate?

Seth Tobias' will, written before his marriage to Phyllis, left his $25 million estate to his family, excluding Phyllis. However, Florida law entitled her to the entire estate as his spouse. Seth's family contested this using the Slayer Statute, but the case was eventually settled privately, with no public details disclosed.

Who is Gina Marie Marks, and what was her scam?

Gina Marie Marks was a psychic scammer who preyed on vulnerable individuals, claiming to remove curses in exchange for money. She used tactics like cold reading and fabricated rituals, such as a bloody egg trick, to convince victims of curses. She scammed over $65,000 from multiple victims, including a doctor and a professional athlete.

What was Bob Nygaard's role in bringing Gina Marie Marks to justice?

Bob Nygaard, a private investigator and former NYPD officer, specialized in exposing psychic scams. He gathered evidence against Gina Marie Marks by interviewing victims and presenting the case to authorities. Despite initial reluctance from prosecutors, his persistence led to her arrest, conviction, and eventual imprisonment for fraud and violating probation.

What was the final outcome for Gina Marie Marks?

Gina Marie Marks pleaded guilty to fraud charges and was sentenced to six years in prison. She was also ordered to pay restitution to her victims. Despite her release, she continued her scams under different aliases, but Bob Nygaard's efforts ensured she faced legal consequences multiple times.

What is the Slayer Statute, and how was it used in Seth Tobias' case?

The Slayer Statute prevents a murderer from financially benefiting from their crime. Seth Tobias' family invoked this law to block Phyllis from inheriting his $25 million estate, alleging she was involved in his death. However, the case was settled privately before a definitive legal ruling was made.

Chapters
Seth Tobias, a successful CNBC regular, was found dead in his pool. His wife, Phyllis, was initially considered a suspect due to their tumultuous relationship and history of violence. However, the investigation took a strange turn when Billy Ash, an online psychic, claimed Phyllis murdered Seth with poisoned spaghetti and provided lurid details about Seth's alleged secret gay life. Despite Ash's sensational claims, the State Attorney decided not to press charges against Phyllis due to insufficient evidence. The case highlights the complexities of investigating suspicious deaths and the challenges of using unreliable sources.
  • Seth Tobias's death was initially attributed to a possible overdose and drowning.
  • Billy Ash, a psychic, claimed Phyllis Tobias murdered her husband with poisoned spaghetti.
  • The State Attorney declined to press charges against Phyllis Tobias due to lack of evidence.
  • Billy Ash's credibility was questioned due to his criminal history and inconsistencies in his statements.

Shownotes Transcript

As Abe Lincoln once said—or possibly some guy named Peter Drucker, depends on who you ask—the best way to predict the future is to create it. But for a lot of us humans, that’s a little too loosey-goosey. We’re not big fans of the unknown, and we tend to seek out people who claim they can tell us what to expect from the future. Americans, for example, spend billions a year on psychics. A lot of these are legitimate businesspeople who genuinely want to provide counseling and comfort for their clients. But there’s also a bustling trade in psychic fraud—run by people who have no qualms about taking advantage of you at your most vulnerable and desperate. Today we’re gonna tell you about two of those cases. Case 1: The Mysterious Death of Seth Tobias. Case 2: Psychic Scammer Gina Marks

Sources:
New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/business/04tobias.html
ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=4279324&page=1
New York Magazine: https://nymag.com/news/features/43914/
The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/article/hunt-for-tiger-the-go-go-boy-after-seth-tobiass-death-5n923qml8pf
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/12/bob-nygaard-private-investigator-psychic-fraud
NBC: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/maryland-psychic-sentenced-to-6-years-for-scamming-clients/155294/
TV show "Pink Collar Crime," episode "The Psychic Didn't See Him Coming"

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