I discovered Lesia Miller Schnur, a.k.a. The Haunted Librarian, when both of us were named on Feedspot’s List of Top 50 Paranormal Blogs. Not everyone on that list appealed to my particular paranormal sensibilities, but I liked what I saw on her blog. I added her to the list of WordPress sites I’m following.
What I like about her is that she’s a no-nonsense straight-shooter. She also writes about interesting things, such as TV show reviews, UFOs, and paranormal stories and such that find their way in the news.
She’s also not afraid to call out the para phonies and shysters.
I call such shady swindlers Paranormal Posers. I used to get all riled up about such people.
Keyword being “used to.” I haven’t called anyone out in years now.
However, the Haunted Librarian has a better term, which she’s coined with a hashtag and everything: #ParaScammers.
She’s also recently written about such a scammer.
Ideal Event Management: Another #ParaScammer?
In November 2017, Lesia wrote “Another #ParaScammer?”
The title instantly intrigued me. But then I was shocked to see a company name I’m familiar with, since I’ve often included their events in the Ghost Hunting Events & Tours listings. (When I’ve been better about updating it, that is, which I shamefully have not done lately.)
It was for Ideal Event Management.
She wrote her post after reading a warning on Brad Klinge’s official Klinge Brothers website to the paranormal community to beware of Marc Tetlow, the owner of Ideal Event Management.
Apparently things went south at the 7th Annual Paracon at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota. Something about contracts were changed and talent didn’t get paid.
To make matters worse, as Lesia reported, Marc has split:
Searching the Internet one would presume he has an extensive roster of talent. Some of the most well-known para-celebrities appear on his event posters. However, one cannot confirm since the company’s website is gone. So are his multiple social media accounts.
Caveat Emptor
The moral of the story is buyer’s must always beware.
The majority of folks in the paranormal are some of the nicest, most generous people you’ll ever meet, and their intentions are on the up and up.
And that’s part of the problem. Where there is good, there is also bad. As in bad people who want to take advantage of other’s good and trusting natures.
As the Haunted Librarian so poetically summed up her post, I’ll use her words to conclude mine, because it’s good advice:
As always, protect yourself when purchasing tickets to events. Double-check that the event is actually booked. Do a little bit of research and the companies involved. Stay vigilant and know the people to avoid.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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It’s a real shame that people feel the need to scam other folks.
Isn’t it? Very disappointing.
I try to remind myself that there are far more good people in the world than bad.
That’s a very glass half-full attitude, Bast! I’m going to try and remember to think of that from now on too.