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Gypsies: Marie Hayes, Ann Johns, Pete Johns
Location: 3835 N. Western, Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-583-8327
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I was scammed out of over $70,000 from Marie Hayes and her mother Ann Johns. They had me make the checks out to Pete Johns. I have not recovered any of the funds.
My story is similar to so many others out there. I am a male in my mid forties I went in to see Marie on my own when I was in a very vulnerable period and seeking answers. She said I had alot of "negative energy" surrounding me, and asked whether I had ever heard of a "spiritual cleansing". Well, the spiritual cleansing alone cost $1000 but that was nothing compared to what was to come. She said the "negative energy" was too strong so she had to bring her mother into the "Work". Well, Ann Johns, her mother, is like the Big Guns--the closer. She said she'd find out whatever this negative energy is, and a couple sessions later she told me it was a "curse" that had been put on my family 2 generations back, that a woman had put it on my grandfather and that was why I was depressed, had a brother on drugs, etc. I was sceptical and tried to get her to give me some hard facts on this woman who put a curse on my grandfather (the nicest man who had no enemies). She promised to get me all that information but never did, finally insisting that it was too painful to go into the past.
Anyway, here's when the hammer came down. After bringing in pictures of my entire family to "bless", she asked me how much money I had. "Only to bless it" she said. Well I foolishly told her, and the next time I came in she asked my how much I was willing to "sacrifice" to save my family. Of course I would do anything for my family, and before you know it I was pledging all of my investments, $100,000, even though I already owed $50,000 in credit card debt. I honestly don't know what came over me. I don't consider myself the type to fall for this kind of thing, I mean it's CLASSIC. But I wanted it so bad because they were promising me that I was Chosen for this work to save my family and to become, like them, a powerful healer, and that I was destined to make Millions. These people are VERY persuasive. They also repeated over and over "THIS WORK IS GUARANTEED".
I ended up forking over more than $70,000 before I ran out of funds. They wanted more.
That was seven years ago. I am still in touch with Marie and Ann, although Marie is out of town constantly now and I suspect that it's because other people want their money back. Needless to say, I never struck it rich or obtained the "healing powers" that they promised, despite following all their directions with holy water, incense and such to the letter. Ann, the motherly one, who seems so caring and spiritual, claims that they "Never stopped praying" for me but she turns ugly any time I mention getting my money back and blames the reasons for my problems back onto me.
Please, if anyone else has been scammed by Marie Hayes and Ann Johns, get in touch with me. I know for a fact that they never claimed this income, and Marie told me once that other people have paid larger sums than I have. If enough people come forward we may be able to get the state's Attorney involved if the dollar amounts are big enough.
I am leaving my name out for now, but I can be reached by email at zpcsos@aol.com
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