Roya investigation exposes scam witchcraft ring in Jordan

An investigation by the Roya TV program "Nabd Al Balad" exposed an organized fraud network operating in Jordan under the guise of "spiritual healing" and "witchcraft."

The sophisticated operation, run primarily through social media, gives false promises as a commercial service complete with set prices and discreet delivery.

The investigation used undercover tactics to document how these practices have evolved from isolated incidents into a major “business venture” that exploits the desperation and vulnerability of citizens.

Digital Deception and Unified Fraud Method

The investigation began by tracking social media posts offering false guarantees, such as "bringing back a lover within 24 hours."

The team proceeded to contact an initial list of 20 individuals claiming to be "spiritual sheikhs," recording calls and setting up undercover meetings to document their methods and fees.

The investigation revealed a unified operating method among the fraudsters, resembling an unwritten "operations manual":

• Digital Bait: Using social media as a storefront to advertise quick, guaranteed "services."
• Sensitive Data Collection: Demanding precise personal information (full name, mother's name, date of birth) as a prerequisite for the alleged "work."
• Pricing and Rituals: Setting strict, often strange, times for rituals (such as early morning hours) and imposing fixed prices ranging from 20 dinars ($28) per session up to 180 dinars ($254) for "blind obedience."
• Discreet Delivery: Ensuring secrecy by using delivery services to send the "order" (the charm or spell) or even having it buried in cemeteries.

Legal Gaps and Rising Digital Crime

The investigation highlighted two main problems contributing to the phenomenon's spread:

• Weak Legal Deterrence: While the current Penal Code criminalizes these acts, the stipulated penalties (which may reach only six months imprisonment for some charges) are criticized as not being deterrent enough, especially given the psychological and financial harm inflicted on victims.
• Rising Digital Sorcery: The Cybercrime Unit confirmed that this type of fraud is a growing and worrisome trend, despite the lack of accurate statistics on the number of victims.

Examples of Prices and False Promises

• "Blind Obedience" for 180 Dinars: One individual, who refused to be named, boasted of his ability to "turn people into rings on your fingers" and offered to achieve "blind obedience" in just 24 hours using special incense for 180 dinars ($254).
• "Umm Yahya's" Night Rituals for 80 Dinars: Another alleged practitioner required complete personal data and set a price of 80 dinars ($113) for rituals to be performed exclusively between 1 AM and 4 AM. She offered discreet delivery options, including burial or consumption of the materials.
• "Breaking Spells" in Irbid for 20 Dinars: "Abu Moatasem" (a pseudonym) requested the "client" attend with a male guardian and set the price at 20 dinars ($28) for a two-to-four-hour session, promising to reveal "everything."