World's Greatest Con

In James Randi's Own Words

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May 16, 2023
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ANECDOTE

Recruited Magicians for Hoax

  • James Randi recruited two young amateur magicians to infiltrate a parapsychology lab with fake psychic abilities.
  • They were accepted based on fabricated psychic stories and easily fooled the scientists during tests.
ANECDOTE

Scientists Ignored Warnings

  • The magicians reported their deceptive feats directly to Randi, who preemptively warned the scientists with detailed letters about possible tricks.
  • Despite clear warnings, the scientists remained convinced of the kids' psychic genuineness and ignored the cautions.
ANECDOTE

Project Alpha Exposure

  • Project Alpha was exposed at a Time Magazine press conference and on the Today Show just days before the lab's paper was presented.
  • The revelation caused significant embarrassment to parapsychological researchers involved in the experiment.
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