I fell down a serious bunny hole researching the topic of Fortune Telling and the Law! As such, I surpassed the character limit for the YouTube description box when I released Part 1 of the Video series, Fortune Telling and the law.
I've utilized my website blog to provide a more detailed list of all that research and when appropriate, provided ordinances and laws by the relevant state within the country of the United States of America.
Please keep in mind that this is information for your entertainment. This should not be construed as legal advice, and I encourage you to research ordinances and laws governing fortune telling, witchcraft, and the occult arts in your local area.
Reporting Fortune Telling Scams and Fraud
“AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.” AARP. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline.html?cmp=KNC-DSM-FRAUD-TextAds-1060-GOOGNB-FRAUD-HELPLINE-Exact-DESKTOP-NonBrand&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0N6hBhAUEiwAXab-Ta6QXU_LbpbTeaPpjLAtZbfx3y_7OFMJqSOZZ0d0VUD8dB7NS_MozxoCYikQAvD_BwE
“Do Yourself a Favor: Be Crime Smart.” FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety
Federal Trade Commission Report Fraud. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
“Fraud and Scams.” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, United States Government. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/fraud/
“How To Report A Scammer To The Police.” The Law Dictionary. https://thelawdictionary.org/article/how-to-report-a-scammer-to-the-police/
“Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).” Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://www.ic3.gov/Home/FileComplaint
“Report Fraud.” The United States Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud
“Reporting Scams.” American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/senior_lawyers/resources/reporting-scams/
"A Senior’s Guide to Financial Scams (And How to Avoid Them)." Annuity.org. https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/seniors-guide-to-financial-scams/
Simmons, Christian. "Financial Abuse." Annuity.org. https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/financial-abuse/
“Where to report a scam.” USA.gov. https://www.usa.gov/where-report-scams
Court Cases
“Argello v. City of Lincoln.” CaseText Inc. https://casetext.com/case/argello-v-city-of-lincoln
“Argello v. City of Lincoln, 143 F. 3d 1152 - Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit 1998.” ScholarGoogle.com. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11239653481505798951
“Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Hudson_Gas_%26_Electric_Corp._v._Public_Service_Commission#:~:text=Gas%20%26%20Electric%20Corp.-,v.,of%20the%20United%20States%20Constitution.
Kahn, Robert A. “United States v. Ballard (1944)” The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle Tennessee State University. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/708/united-states-v-ballard
“Marks v. City of Roseburg.” CaseText Inc. https://casetext.com/case/marks-v-city-of-roseburg-1
“Rushman v. City of Milwaukee, 959 F. Supp. 1040 (E.D. Wis. 1997).” Justa US Law, Justa Connect. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/959/1040/2366930/
“United States v. O'Brien - 391 U.S. 367, 88 S. Ct. 1673 (1968).” LexisNexis. https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-united-states-v-o-brien
Vile, John R. “American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 as Amended in 1994 (1994).” The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle Tennessee University. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1053/american-indian-religious-freedom-act-of-1978-as-amended-in-1994#:~:text=Agriculture%2C%20public%20domain)-,The%201994%20amendment%20to%20the%20American%20Indian%20Religious%20Freedom%20Act,prohibited%20by%20the%20United%20States
“Village of Schaumburg v. Petke.” Casetext, Inc. https://casetext.com/case/village-of-schaumburg-v-petke
On Ethics
“Ethics | Ethics Defined.” McCombs School of Business, YouTube. 18 December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vWXpzlL7Mo
“The Ethics of Party Fortune Telling.” Santiago’s Grimore, WordPress. https://santiagosgrimoire.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/the-ethics-of-party-fortune-telling/
Fredrick. “The Ethics of Fortune-Telling & Its Impact on Mental Health.” Chiron Foundation. 02 March 2023. https://chironfoundation.com/2023/03/02/the-ethics-of-fortune-telling-and-its-impact-on-mental-health/
Grannan, Cydney. “What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?” Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-morality-and-ethics#:~:text=Both%20morality%20and%20ethics%20loosely,certain%20community%20or%20social%20setting
“How Ethics Can Help You Make Better Decisions | Michael Schur | TED.” Ted, YouTube. 07 July 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAswj8evFZk
“Let's Have a Ramble about Ethics // Psychic Showboating, Armchair Diagnosing, Free Services.” Samantha Menzo, YouTube. 16 November 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOwWk4vXwa8
“Ep17: Psychic Ethics.” Third Eye Bind, YouTube. 12 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxJ0DNyGso
“Psychic Scams.” AARP. 28 April 2022. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/psychic.html
Velasquez, Manuel with Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer. “Justice and Fairness.” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University. 01 August 2014. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/justice-and-fairness/
Velasquez, Manuel with Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer. “What is Ethics?” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University. 01 January 2010. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/what-is-ethics/
A Selection of Individual Codes of Ethics from Individual Fortune Tellers and Psychics
You can view my personal Code of Ethics for Fairy Fortunes by Ruby Ruse here.
Hollis, Karen. “Karen Hollis's Professional Code of Ethics for Readings By Karen.” ReadingsbyKaren.com. http://readingsbykaren.com/about/ethics.html
Lord, Annmarie. “Code of Ethics Annmarie Lord.” AnnmarieLord.com. https://www.annmarielord.com/code-ethics-conduct/
“Soulfull: Get Write with Your Soul.” https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/5027b5eb/files/uploaded/SoulfullPsychicMediumCodeOfEthics.pdf
Associations for Psychics
American Association of Certified Psychics. http://www.certifiedpsychics.com/
(Note from Ruby Ruse: there is no information on the certification criteria for these psychics, and therefore, I cannot in good conscience, recommend this organization)
National Spiritualist Association of Churches. https://nsac.org/
World Divination Association. https://www.worlddivinationassociation.com/
General Resources
“7 Consequences & Penalties for Operating a Business without a License.” Corporation Service Company. 31 May 2019. https://blog.cscglobal.com/7-consequences-for-operating-without-a-business-license/
Corcos, Christine. “Seeing It Coming since 1945: State Bans and Regulations of Crafty Sciences Speech and Activity.” Digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu. https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1407&context=faculty_scholarship
“Craft fairs and sales tax: A state-by-state guide.” Avalara. 2020. https://www.avalara.com/us/en/learn/whitepapers/craft-fairs-and-sales-tax-a-state-by-state-guide.html#:~:text=The%20state%20considers%20anyone%20selling,you're%20required%20to%20pay.
Debole, Paul. “How do you license a fortune teller?” Commonwealth Magazine. 30 October 2018, https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/how-do-you-license-a-fortune-teller/
“How to Start a Fortune Tellers Business.” Gaebler, Gaebler Ventures. https://www.gaebler.com/How-to-Start-a-Fortune-Tellers-Business.htm
“Indiana fortune teller under investigation.” WTHR. 23 February 2011. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-fortune-teller-under-investigation/531-1b2cf5c4-0373-4c5b-b582-b6c3456ba942
Lee, Blewett. “The Fortune-Teller.” The Virginia Law Review, JASTO.org. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1064993.pdf
“Licensing Permits and Taxes for Festival Craft Show and Art Fair Vendors.” Fairs and Festivals.Net. https://www.fairsandfestivals.net/articles/view/licensing-permits-and-taxes-for-festival-craft-show-and-art-fair-vendors
Milliken, Maureen. “Small Businesses and Sales Taxes.” Debt.org. 12 October 2021. https://www.debt.org/small-business/sales-taxes/
Plaster, Mike. “What happens if I don’t collect or remit sales tax?” Avalara. 10 August 2018. https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north-america/2018/08/tax-q-a-what-happens-if-i-dont-collect-sales-tax.html#:~:text=You%20could%20be%20accused%20of,be%20at%20risk%20as%20well.
Segall, Bob. “Indiana fortuneteller sentenced for stealing.” WTHR. 1 October 2015. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/investigations/13-investigates/indiana-fortuneteller-sentenced-stealing/531-1e428f92-aa80-499a-a9d5-5fc185e5c8fb
Ordinances and Laws By State
Illinois
Gjelten, E.A. “Illinois Felony Crimes by Class and Sentences.” Criminal Defense Lawyer, NOLO. https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/felony-offense/illinois-felony-class.htm
Gjelten, E.A. “Illinois Misdemeanor Crimes by Class and Sentences.” Criminal Defense Lawyer, NOLO. https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/illinois-misdemeanor-crimes-class-and-sentences.htm#:~:text=In%20Illinois%2C%20as%20in%20most,misdemeanors%2C%20carry%20only%20a%20fine.
State of Illinois, Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statues: 720 ILCS 5, Criminal Code of 2012. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=072000050HArt%2E+17&ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&SeqStart=51700000&SeqEnd=60800000 Access Date: 19 February 2023
Chicago
“Incident Reporting Guide/Chicago Police Department.” Chicago Police. http://directives.chicagopolice.org/forms/CPD-63.451_Table.pdf
Oak Park
“Illinois, Oak Park, Code: 17-1-23: Spiritualism and Other Forms of Fortune Telling Prohibited.” American Legal Publishing.
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/oakparkil/latest/oakpark_il/0-0-0-8994 Accessed Date: 19 February 2023.
South Elgin
“Illinois, South Elgin, Code: 132.01 Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Conduct and Unlawful Loitering.” American Legal Publishing. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/southelgin/latest/southelgin_il/0-0-0-4283 Accessed Date: 20 February 2023.
Indiana
New Castle
“Indiana, New Castle, Code: 111.05 Street Fairs.” American Legal Publishing. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newcastle/latest/newcastle_in/0-0-0-4385 Accessed Date: 20 February 2023.
Massachusetts
“Massachusetts law about fortune tellers.” Mass.gov., Commonwealth of Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-fortune-tellers
New York
New York Courts. Fortune Telling Penal Law 165.35. https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/cji/2-PenalLaw/165/165-35.pdf Accessed Date: 19 February 2023
Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin, Department of Revenue. Temporary Events. https://www.revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb228.pdf Access Date: 19 February 2023
Wisconsin State Legislature. 947.02: Vagrancy. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/02/1 Access Date: 20 February 2023.