Iowa attorney general's office settles with 'psychic medium' business over alleged fraud
The Iowa attorney general's office reached an agreement with a self-proclaimed psychic after alleging she violated the Consumer Fraud Act by claiming her services could heal clients.
The attorney general's office initially opened an investigation into Allison Campbell and her Altoona-based psychic service in August 2022 after the wife of a former client filed a consumer protection complaint. The wife, Becky Courtney, claims her husband, Craig Courtney, committed suicide after seeking out Campbell's "healing" services.
“This is about awareness. We want those who offer psychic-medium services to be aware of the negative impact on lives such an experience can have and there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Speaking on health concerns is one of those lines," Becky Courtney said in a statement provided by the attorney general's office.
Campbell describes herself on her business's website as "person who happens to have psychic medium abilities."
A news release from the attorney general's office said Craig Courtney met with Campbell three times over a two month period after suffering injuries from a fall.
In those meetings, Becky Courtney claims Campbell told her husband he would die of cancer before his next birthday, a diagnosis which medical doctors caring for Courtney refuted. The attorney general's office said that despite claiming she could do so, Campbell was not capable of diagnosing and healing these physical and mental ailments.
Campbell denied these allegations, according to the attorney general's office. Investigators were unable to verify the claims, though they did uncover text messages in which Craig Courtney expressed concern to Campbell over physical ailments and a video recording in which Campbell appeared to be offering him advice regarding a back injury.
Investigators asserted Craig Courtney believed in Campbell's diagnoses, citing a Google review he wrote about Campbell's business reading, "I’m not a believer but Allison cured me of this. VERY ACCURATE."
As a part of the agreement with the state, Campbell is barred from advertising her services can "heal," "cure" or "treat" any physical or mental health problem. If a client raises a physical or mental health problem, Campbell must refer them to the proper medical professionals, according to the agreement. In addition, anything associated with Craig Courtney's should be taken down from all promotional materials associated with Campbell's business.
Campbell's website now prominently features "Terms& Conditions", which include the heading of "NOT HEALTHCARE OR LEGAL ADVICE."
"Any information or advice given by Allison Campbell is not to be used by you in place of any medical, legal, tax or financial advice or diagnosis from qualified and licensed professionals in those fields. Readings by Allison Campbell are intended to offer insight into your personal life and do not in any way constitute medical, legal, tax or financial advice," the terms say.
Campbell did not return a call requesting comment Friday afternoon.
Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @francescablock3.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Attorney general bars Iowa psychic from claiming she can heal people
