Man claims online psychic made him buy $1 million Powerball winning ticket
A Hollywood man claims an online psychic pestered him by sending periodic messages that promised riches were coming soon. He tried to ignore the psychic. And then.
Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.
During a miserable period of my life -- you know, your average Tuesday -- I went to see a psychic.
She got everything wrong. She became more and more frustrated, until she finally exclaimed: "Come on! Can't you just tell me?!"
She kept the money, of course. Which is why I have a certain skepticism for those who claim psychic abilities.
Kevin Millard, however, seems to have no qualms. Well, fewer. As a California Lottery press release revealed, he consulted an online psychic for a while. He availed himself of the psychic's free trial offer.
When the freedom ran out, he cast the psychic aside.
This particular psychic, however, was clearly forward-thinking. She kept pestering Millard, of West Hollywood, California, with messages.
Had this been me, I'd have looked at one of these messages and clicked "block." There are enough charlatans online, desperate to take your money while promising you riches, that inboxes have become overwhelmed with them.
This one, said Millard, sent messages such as "Your money's coming. This year is a change for you." But Millard had cut back on his lottery ticket purchases. Until last weekend's jackpot became too alluring. It was $208 million.
He insisted, though, that it was the online psychic's messages that nudged him not only to buy tickets, but to go to an entirely different, random store to buy them.
His usual ticket-purchasing store must be loving him right now. Millard matched five numbers and won $1,009,368.
It's not clear whether the online psychic will get a cut, or whether Millard will now sign up for her paid services.
You will meet several women of your dreams in the next week! (This is Hollywood, after all.)
It's enticing, though, to think that there might some people lurking online who can change your fortunes. More often, they're likely to be those who sign you up, charge your credit card regularly and perhaps try to steal your identity.
Of course, it could be that the online psychic had absolutely nothing to do with Millard's win.
Who wants to believe that, though?
Caveat believer, all the same.