Fake Psychic
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"A lighter fraud story with real historical bite — good Fraud & Scams shelf filler."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
- ✓Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system
Pros & cons
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
If you wanted to speak to the dead in 1960s America, there was one man ready to help — for the right price. Fake Psychic, from BBC Radio 4, is a short, wry look at spiritualist fraud that sits nicely alongside heavier scam coverage.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fake Psychic
What is Fake Psychic about?
If you wanted to speak to the dead in 1960s America, there was one man ready to help — for the right price. Fake Psychic, from BBC Radio 4, is a short, wry look at spiritualist fraud that sits nicely alongside heavier scam coverage.
Is Fake Psychic worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Good if you want a lighter, stranger entry into the Fraud & Scams shelf". It scores 6/10 on binge factor. BBC Radio 4's short series on the man who claimed he could put 1960s America in touch with the dead — for a fee.
Who is Fake Psychic for?
Fake Psychic is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories; Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system.
What is the best episode of Fake Psychic to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Fake Psychic?
Fake Psychic is available on BBC Sounds, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Fake Psychic?
If you enjoy Fake Psychic, you might also like: The Missing Cryptoqueen, Sweet Bobby, The Retrievals, Death in Ice Valley. See our full "Podcasts Like Fake Psychic" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Curious, wry, atmospheric
- Episode length
- 25-35 min
- Episodes
- 7 episodes
- Binge factor
- 6/10
- Country
- United Kingdom
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