Good Thinking Investigates: Faith Healer Peter Popoff
Channel: Good Thinking Society
Date: 2015-09-24

Peter Popoff was one of the biggest televangelists of the 1980s, claiming to use his connection to God to diagnose and cure all manner of diseases. But an investigation led by James Randi discovered that Popoff’s miracle insights weren’t coming from god, but from the earpiece he used to communicate with his wife.

Exposed as a fraud, Popoff declared bankruptcy in 1987, but almost 30 years later he has resurrected his career and is back in business using mass mailing, the internet and television to spread his gospel via free packets of miracle water. Upon signing up for the water, people are bombarded with letters soliciting donations and promising vast wealth and good fortune from God if Popoff's rituals are performed and if the donations are made.

In May 2015, Popoff appeared at the Troxy Theatre in London, where he claimed to heal sick members of the 2,000-strong audience, before soliciting cash donations. By our estimate, he is likely to have received more than £40,000 on that day alone. What's more, one of the audience members allegedly healed by Popoff's touch had previously been seen helping with event organisation. It seems possible that she was a member of Popoff's own team, embedded into the audience.

We’ve shared our findings with the City of London police Action Fraud team for further investigation. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on any developments.