Woman cheated out of 50,000 yuan learning psychic arts

A woman from East China's Anhui Province was swindled out of 50,000 yuan ($7,748) on fake classes on psychic arts, including telepathizing with ghosts and animals.

The woman surnamed Liu has been taking a variety of courses including magic, mental telepathy, shaman and feng shui from a WeChat official account Magick Area since January, hoping it would "improve their fortunes of finance and romantic relationships."

According to Liu, she spent more than 50,000 yuan on several courses and props between January and August. Some courses such as mental telepathy with animals cost her 3,000 yuan for a four-hour lesson. The courses even invited some overseas "experts" to teach trainees to telepathize with animals to know their moods.

However, she later found that the two companies based in Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu Province which manage the WeChat account and offer these courses have never registered with local authorities.

Through a preliminary investigation, the local market watchdog identified that the companies engaged in feudal superstition are suspected of criminal offences, and handed over the case to the local police.