This guy is a fake. I tried to see whether he would slip up and he did. He claims to have had visions or dreams about Madeleine. But he basically trawls the internet and then posts to make it look like he's onto something. I e-mailed him to correct him as to the timing of Madeleine's disappearance, and he altered my e-mail, then posted it to corroborate what he had written.
I wrote that Kate McCann reported Maddie missing at around 22.00 (10pm) and he changed it to read 12pm (he even made a typo when he changed it).
What a jerk. If you check his website, Briansprediction.com one of his activities is "predicting" winning lottery numbers. Another is selling domain names. He is lowlife, he uses his wife's pregnancy and his son's drawings to substantiate his claims, and make him look like a genuine guy. The sketch of the apartment building is taken from a photo he found on the web. The idea about using sniffer dogs is taken from an article in the UK press (actually not a bad idea).
The thing I find disgusting about this, is the false hope it gives Madeleine's family. For them to have hope, yes, but not bolstered by some fake predictions or visions. I apologize profusely to the McCann family for having believed for one second that this man was for real. I wanted so much to believe it could help bring Madeleine home.
You might find this discussion on the JREF forums interesting.
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=74308
He's been proven to be lying about his predictions before. Another short thread there pointed out that he claims to predict lottery numbers, but seems to consider an $11 return on $15 of tickets a good result.
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=75174
This message from Brian's page:Originally Posted by Sophia
So, he changed 10PM to 12ptm[sic] so that it would match his story.Hi Brian,
I found a contact address for the internet café in Praia da Luz - it is the following e-mail address :
luz.dotcom3@hotmail.com
Just an idea, but I thought you could liaise maybe with someone "on the ground" as it where. He might recognize some of the places in your drawings.
Also wanted to say the timing poses a problem. It is reported that the conversation between Murat and Sergei tool place at 11.40 pm, but the McCanns found Madeleine missing about 12ptm, I believe, so she was taken before then.
Just thought I should clear up the timescale issue.
Keep on working on this one, if you help find her, it would be awesome.
Sophia
reply
Thanks for checking out these numbers for me, will post your information.
That seems to fit his modus operandi. All of his dreams and predictions are simply after the event and he's tricking people into believing they're predictions.
It can be easy to fall for such tricks.
We skeptics look into the claims of people like Brian Ladd and expose them for the charlatans they are - we don't usually get thanked.
I think this case, however, has shown up the importance of scrutinising such claims and revealing the truth behind them. In tragic cases like this one, self-proclaimed psychics are definitely not the people to turn to.
.
Hello everyone.
I only heard about this Brian guy a few days ago and had a look at his site. Yep, I was astounded at first, particularly by his predictions on the Shawn Hornbeck case, and then on his initial 'dream' forecasting the Madeleine McCann abduction.
I have always been a complete cynic about this kind of stuff, although....a bit embarrassing, this.....I watched a few of those Psychic Witness programmes on Discovery and was flummoxed by the accuracy of the psychics.
Any way, Brian's predictions just seemed bizarrely accurate, too damned accurate! But there's no doubt the way he replies to his doubters is impressive, he really does make himself come over as sincere, genuinely concerned about missing people, not interested in money, etc, etc. He had me fooled.
BUT! I read the allegations about the Lottery numbers, ie that he altered the time-stamp (or whatever the technical jargon is) on the scan of the sketch of his dream, and now this revelation that he altered the date in the email that was sent to him - unbelievable!
I'd love to know if any one is investigating him further, is there a way of tracing exactly when he posted all those predictions that proved to be uncannily accurate? The Hornbeck case in particular has made this guy's name - do you know of any efforts to date when he posted those predictions?
I noticed tonight that he is now the talk of the internet, it seems like every UK site discussing the McCann case is acclaiming this guy and urging the authorities to take him seriously (although, obviously, there are plenty of sceptics too). Considering he charges a hefty fee for private/urgent readings, or whatever he calls them, surely he should be investigated for fraud?
Is there any agency at all that looks in to these guys? If he is a fraud then it is stomach churning to see him gain so much publicity and attention through his Madeleine McCann 'work'.
Would love to know if you're aware of any one investigating him, thanks.
Hi Colin and welcome.
I posted this earlier on the main site: http://www.ukskeptics.com/prediction.htm (Skeptic predicts lottery numbers)
If you're coming across people taking Brian's Predictions seriously all I can ask is that you post a link to that web page which replicates Brian's 'lottery prediction' of Feb this year.
It links back to this forum which also reveals how it's done.
.
Hi everyone.
I'm new to posting messages, I usually just prefer to read and compare other people's opinions.
I've been following the progress of the search for Madeleine since she first went missing and, from link to link to link... found a few discussions about psychics and, after I'd already been impressed by Brian's "dreams", found your board.
I'm just thanking you for opening my eyes. Even though I would still like to believe that some psychic somewhere is genuine, I no longer believe they all are.
I just registered to tell you that I've now felt compelled to post your link on two different boards because I'm feeling sick about the way some people are raving on and on about Brian. I don't know how many posts I've read where they've e-mailed all his details to the McCanns.
Anyway, enough whingeing from me. I'll continue to spread your word.
Thanks for listening.
Not one single psychic has ever been proven to be genuine.
That's why we're so opposed to them involving themselves in tragic cases like The Madeleine McCann disappearance.
Some of them may be well-meaning, others are out and out grief-sucking parasites, but they all have one thing in common: they can't do what they claim they can do.
Now, there may well be a section of the population who benefit from going to psychics etc. (using them as life-coaches or counsellors - or even just a shoulder to cry on), but when psychics' egos lead them to think that their supposed magical ability can help them solve serious crime (or benefit from the publicity of being associated with it) then they are seriously overstepping the mark.
.
Hello again,
I've been keeping an eye on Brian's 'dreams' and am growing angrier and more cynical about this guy with every passing day!
The latest example:
He has a 'Last Night's Dreams' page which he updates daily.
The latest entries are dated: "6.17.2007 (6.16.2007 nights dreams)", but, even allowing for the time difference, we're now well in to 6.18.2007 (Monday).
The third 'dream' down is a sketch of a man with some words scribbled on the page, underneath Brian has the caption:
"UK Taylor kills himself 146 he missed her, AIR, AT".
Yes, indeed, a 93-year-old pensioner named Albert Taylor stabbed himself to death in Cheshire - but this story was posted on the BBC website at 5.50 on Sunday evening!
So, this is my prediction: a couple of people will email Brian and tell him his dream was accurate and he is amazing. He will thank them, and might add (if challenged) "I didn't know anything about this story". Like he never checks the BBC website for stories he'll then 'predict'
His supporters will all believe him, and continue to pay him large bundles of dollars.
Can't any one stop this guy?
PS I just had a look at the link to the Archive he uses above the sketch of this 'dream'. It says:
BriansDreams.com 6.17.2007 7:29 AM EDT USA
Is that meant to mean he added the sketch to his website at that time?
I know for 100% certain the sketch was NOT on the website at midnight last night (ie Sunday night, UK time) - approx six hours after the story appeared on the BBC - because I looked at it then and actually sent a jokey email to a friend, who shares my sceptism about this guy, at three minutes past midnight about something that appeared on the 'Last Night's Dreams' page....and the Taylor sketch wasn't there.
This is beginning to smell like one of life's greatest scams.
Last edited by Colin_72; 18th June 2007 at 11:08 PM.
I've just checked the info on that image Brian has put up:
Last-Modified: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 GMT 05:47:12 GMT
Well after the event.
That's this image by the way:
That's 10:47AM in the eastern United States Monday 18th June.
Same modus operandi as his lottery prediction, and as the Madeleine McCann prediction.
.
Great work John. I'm trying to spread the word about this guy so people stop giving him money! Surely there is enough evidence against him already for him to be charged with fraud?? I notice now that lots of his 'dreams' are UK-related, when there were next to none before the Madeleine McCann case - he obviously sees this as a lucrative market now.I've just checked the info on that image Brian has put up:
Last-Modified: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 GMT 05:47:12 GMT
Well after the event.
That's 10:47AM in the eastern United States Monday 18th June.
Same modus operandi as his lottery prediction, and as the Madeleine McCann prediction.
He seems to be dreaming about time stamps now:
"Brain (sic) -- all dreams will come true - no human time or date clock"
He's also obviously got wind of the allegations, he's added this to his 'Last Night's Dreams' page:
Dream Drawing (DD) Authenticity: All proof and information for all drawing this month are either posted directly below each dream drawing (dd) or on the new d.d. specific page link. If you do not see the date and proof link directly below the drawing, please click directly on the drawing itself or on the "Proof and Information" link below each dd. Almost every dream this month has come true and I'm working very hard to update every single drawing with proof when it came true. I really need your help in doing this, so if you happen to find proof for any dream drawing, please email me with your proof and the date of the drawing. You will receive full credit for any information posted, to include any reward monies if missing people are located. All dream's are archivedby a third party company to verify the drawings exact date and time of posting. To access this information just click on image of the safe above every dream. All DD images are copied are stored in thousands of readers computers and dozens of public archive servers to prevent any tampering with dd sketches and to provide additional information confirming each and every DD's exact time/date of posting. Basically, any image posted to this site either from me or my readers, cannot be modified in anyway.
Well that's strange - I looked at the latest item in the archive and there were no images. Then I looked at other items and there were images. I looked closer and saw that these images were being downloaded, not from an archive but from briansprediction. The missing images were supposed to be downloaded from brianspredictionHe seems to be dreaming about time stamps now
"Brain (sic) -- all dreams will come true - no human time or date clock"
He's also obviously got wind of the allegations, he's added this to his 'Last Night's Dreams' page:
Dream Drawing (DD) Authenticity: All proof and information for all drawing this month are either posted directly below each dream drawing (dd) or on the new d.d. specific page link. If you do not see the date and proof link directly below the drawing, please click directly on the drawing itself or on the "Proof and Information" link below each dd. Almost every dream this month has come true and I'm working very hard to update every single drawing with proof when it came true. I really need your help in doing this, so if you happen to find proof for any dream drawing, please email me with your proof and the date of the drawing. You will receive full credit for any information posted, to include any reward monies if missing people are located. All dream's are archivedby a third party company to verify the drawings exact date and time of posting. To access this information just click on image of the safe above every dream. All DD images are copied are stored in thousands of readers computers and dozens of public archive servers to prevent any tampering with dd sketches and to provide additional information confirming each and every DD's exact time/date of posting. Basically, any image posted to this site either from me or my readers, cannot be modified in anyway.
Looking at brainsprediction the images are missing from there too.
The independant archive, archives only the text and if it verifies anything it's the date and time to the html page. The images are not archived, the time at which the images are posted does not appear to be verified by anybody.
ETA
Looking closer it doesn't appear that the archive actually verifies the date and time of the html page. For certain pages it says "time unknown"
Should we contact Brian's mailing list provider and ask for details of this "independant" archive?
Last edited by Matt; 20th June 2007 at 11:27 AM.
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