A man from Kazakhstan has been sentenced to almost three years in prison after he posed as a magician healer on TikTok and took money from viewers.
The internet is full of people who aren’t who they claim to be. As such, platforms, banks, and everything else in between regularly warn people to be alert for scammers who will try and take your money where possible.
In Kazakhstan, a man posed as a “healer” on TikTok, telling viewers that he could provide “treatment” for their ailments, provided they pay him in return. As per the Kazakhstan Prosecutor’s Office, the man convinced viewers that he “possessed magical powers” in different ways.
“In this manner, the perpetrator stole money from three victims, totaling over 5.5 million tenge, which he spent on bets at a bookmaker,” they said. That 5.5 million Tenge comes out to around £8000/$11,000.
TikTok ‘magical healer’ sent to prison for 2 years
According to the Prosecutor’s Office post on Telegram, the man entered into a guilty plea whilst in court, admitting to the scheme.
As well as partially reimbursing the three victims involved, the man was also sentenced to two years and four months in prison, which was enforced right away without any sort of suspended sentence.
“The prosecutor’s office urges citizens to be vigilant, not to trust dubious offers on social media, and to immediately report such incidents to law enforcement,” they added.
The Moscow-based man isn’t the only one professing to reward people to stuffing money in his pocket.
At the end of January, a clip resurfaced of Pastor Dr Todd Hall asking for a $10,000 donation. The pastor promised that whoever sowed him with the money would become a “multi, multi-millionaire” at some point.
“The Lord said, I want to make a multi, multi-millionaire out of someone but they have to sow $10,000. He said and they have to do that within 90 seconds,” Hall told the congregation.
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