MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) – Moscow police arrested nine fringe psychic mediums, who had received over 5 million rubles ($71,000) from their clients for spell removal rituals, according to the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson Irina Volk.

Nine criminal cases were opened over fraud; eight of them have an additional sign of organized crimes. Five false spiritual healers were placed in detention; others were released under travel restrictions, Volk announced.

According to the investigation, the defendants advertised their magic services on TV. People called them and told call-centers’ operators about their problems. The latter scheduled the first ritual with the cost ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 rubles where a mental healer found the spell was on people and proposed them to continue recoverable rituals. When received money they passed into nothingness.

Over 50 counts of fraud have been detected. Damage caused to victims could exceed 5 milllion rubles, the statement reads.