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368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages

What's the harm in believing in curses?

Curses are prayers or other invocations that supposedly have power over other individuals. Belief in the power of curses is surprisingly common worldwide, even today.  Read more about curses

Here are 29 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.


Photo of Janet Moses

Janet Moses

Age: 22
Wainuiomata, New Zealand

Died
October 12, 2007

Janet's relatives believed she was the victim of a Maori curse. She was drowned during an exorcism ceremony, leaving her two children motherless. Several people were charged with manslaughter. Read more

Janet Moses' cousin (minor)

Age: 14
Wainuiomata, New Zealand

Hospitalized, nearly died
October 12, 2007

During Janet Moses' exorcism, she suffered corneal damage as relatives scratched at her eyes. Read more & more

David Piscitelli

Atlantic City, New Jersey

$200,000
1978 - 1991

She claimed she was just a "dime store astrologer." He claimed she scammed him for over $200,000 by telling him he was cursed in various ways. The lawsuit was settled out of court. Read more

Thanos Savvides

Age: 34
Nicosia, Cyprus

$1,243 to lift a spell
December 6, 2007

After she offered to tell his fortune, a psychic told him he had to pay her to remove a curse placed by his enemies. A court later ordered her to return his money and put her in prison for 20 days. Read more & more

P. Selvakumar

Age: 34
Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India

Married a dog
November 14, 2007

Because he believed he was cursed for stoning two dogs to death, he married another dog at a Hindu temple. Read more & more

19 albinos

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Killed
December 17, 2007

Some in this country believe albinos are victims of curses. Some witch doctors believe that albino body parts are useful for potions. The result has been at least 19 killings in 2007 and 2008. Read more & more

"John Doe"

Glenfield, Leicester, England

£7,000 to lift a curse
Summer 2003

A psychic convinced him he was victim of a curse, and that she could lift it for a fee. The psychic got 15 months in jail. Read more & more

"Jane Roe"

Age: 53
Glenfield, Leicester, England

£48,932 to lift a curse
Summer 2003

A psychic convinced her that her relatives were cursed, and she could lift the curse for a fee. The woman gave her her life savings plus money borrowed from a bank. The psychic got 15 months in jail. Read more & more

 
 
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