Knowing the future, or getting in touch with a dead friend or relative, has an addictive appeal. Princess Diana was reportedly a fan, and Gywneth Paltrow sought advice from a psychic while trying to come to terms with the death of her father. But how do you know if they are for real? Discover how to recognise the real McCoy and avoid the charlatans

In April 2006, Paul Williams from the West Midlands was jailed for conning an elderly widow out of half of her husband's estate. Claiming to be clairvoyant, Williams told the widow that her husband had appeared in a vision telling him his will was hidden in a grandfather clock. The will, which Williams had previously hidden there, stated that the estate should be split equally between the two.

While this is an extreme case, thousands of people in the UK consult psychics for help making decisions or to contact a deceased relative or friend. Every month 75,000 people use psychic phone lines, but how can you tell if you're speaking to a genuine psychic or a charlatan? Belinda Baxter, an experienced psychic medium from Peterborough, has compiled her top five tips on how to choose a medium.

1. Be realistic in your expectations - don't believe extravagant claims or promises. 'A psychic can channel energy and support you in achieving certain goals, but they don't have divine powers', she warns
2. Be wary of fatal or intimidating predictions - if your psychic describes your own death, it's time to leave. 'This is highly traumatic for anyone to hear, and any genuine psychic would avoid doing this!' Belinda claims
3. Think twice about over-generalisations - listen to the warning bells if the medium relays obscure or trivial information using vague concepts such as a 'dinner party' or 'an old house' and implies that they are significant to you. 'They could apply to absolutely anyone!' she advises
4. Be suspicious of too many questions - a genuine psychic should offer their own, first-hand insight, not rely on your answers to glean further information
5. Relax and stay stress-free - if you are feeling harassed or nervous, the psychic may pick up on these feelings and your agitated state could influence the reading

To achieve the most from any psychic reading, Belinda advises 'Try to keep your mind free from stress. While it's wise to be sceptical of any medium who claims to offer a "quick fix", deliberately withholding information to confuse or test the medium will alter the mood of the session and may lead to a vague or inaccurate reading. Let the psychic do most of the talking and only speak to confirm or deny an observation or if you need to ask a particular question.'

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