Whether they offer a glimpse into the future or a promise to fix your problems, it’s clear many Russians are falling in love with psychics. Their popularity has soared thanks to television.

The Iranian-born Mehdi is Russia's most popular psychic. He has beaten hundreds of other contestants to win a popular reality show. Now an appointment with him is rumoured to cost over $US 2,000.

He claims that just from touching a visitor's hand or looking at a photograph he can divine details about their life, relationships, health and future.

“My role is to help people and to show them the right choices for them to make. I am a doctor,” Mehdi said.

Mehdi says that he is scrupulous, but that's not always the case. A lot of people in Russia become victims of rogue psychics. Father Anatoly runs a special centre to help them.
 
“Occultism is as bad as murder. Whereas a murder destroys the body, a witchdoctor steals the soul and leads it to Satan,” Father Anatoly said.

But many believe it's not the church, but the law that should be dealing with psychics. People's trust in psychics can leave them open to fraud and even extortion. Medical patients may also refuse necessary treatment in favour of psychic help.

But prosecution is difficult, as most victims are willing participants, at least initially. Their effectiveness is largely unproven, and their ethics may be questionable.