Is it A Crime to be a Fortune Teller?
Discover when fortune telling becomes a criminal offence in Canada, what the law says under section 365 of the Criminal Code, and the penalties for fraudulent psychic practices.
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Reviewed by Jonathan Pyzer, a criminal defence lawyer with over 23 years of experience and lead counsel at Pyzer Criminal Lawyers.
Being paid to fraudulently tell fortunes is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
The maximum sentence for this offence is a $5,000 fine or 6 months in jail or both a $5,000 fine and 6 months in jail.
- There is no minimum sentence for this offence.
Section 365(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada deals with the issue of fortune telling and states,
365. – Every one who fraudulently
(b) undertakes, for a consideration, to tell fortunes,
is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
In order to be found guilty of fortune telling, the Crown Attorney must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person undertook to tell fortunes for payment and did so under false pretences (with intent to deceive).
This article provides general legal information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Laws and their interpretation may change, and the application of law to specific circumstances requires professional legal assessment. If you have questions about a legal matter, please contact us for a free consultation.
Jonathan Pyzer
Jonathan Pyzer, B.A., L.L.B., is an experienced criminal defence lawyer and distinguished alumnus of McGill University and the University of Western Ontario. As the founder of Pyzer Criminal Lawyers, he brings over two decades of experience to his practice, having successfully represented hundreds of clients facing criminal charges throughout Toronto.
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