The following skeptics pamphlet, offering
$100,000 for proof of a paranormal power and also a "Spotter's Fee", was
reprinted in Investigator 67 (1999 July). Some of the information
may have changed. Therefore check with the Skeptics.
Spotter's Fee
Do you know a true
Psychic or Healer?
We will pay you $20,000 if you can find a
person who successfully completes our
$100,000 Challenge.
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skeptics@spot.tt.sw.oz.au
NSW: Box 268 Roseville 2069
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The $100,000 Challenge
The Australian Skeptics will pay $ 100,000 for proof of extraordinary powers.
Who are we challenging?
Do you have psychic or paranormal powers? We don't mean the illusion
or trickery in stage magic, we mean things like extra sensory perception,
telepathy, telekinesis, divining for water or metals, clairvoyance and
predicting the future. We are challenging such claims and we are also challenging
unsubstantiated claims of healing and miracle cures.
Skeptics challenge
The Australian Skeptics challenge people who claim to have extraordinary
powers to demonstrate their ability under test conditions. We offer a cash
prize of $100,000, which includes monies donated by our patrons Phillip
Adams, the media personality, and Dick Smith, publisher and adventurer.
Their reputations are your guarantee that this is a genuine offer.
We make this offer because we are unconvinced by claims made by professed psychics and healers. While it would be exciting to find someone with genuine powers our experience has shown that people who make such claims are either self deluded or fraudulent. People who genuinely believe they have psychic or healing powers should be able to demonstrate their ability under test conditions. The first person to convince the Australian Skeptics that they have extraordinary powers will receive a great deal of recognition and prestige as well as the $100,000.
What do you have to do?
Naturally for this amount of Money there are a few rules and conditions
which apply. If you wish to try for the challenge you should contact us
for full details. Briefly, this is what you have to do. You first apply
in writing, clearly stating what you are claiming to be able to do. We
would like to see a letter from a responsible person saying that they have
witnessed you perform your feat. This is so our time is not wasted with
crackpots. Representatives from the Australian Skeptics will work with
you to define a suitable, and mutually agreeable, test procedure and to
select an independent umpire. The test will be run by an approved panel
of officers of the Australian Skeptics. If you are successful you will
be awarded $100,000. The results of this test, whether successful or not,
will be published in ‘the Skeptic’, the magazine of the Australian Skeptics.
The news media may also be invited to witness any tests.
Notes on the challenge
Australian Skeptics is a non-profit organisation so any costs involved
have to be borne by the applicant unless we agree to other arrangements.
If vou know someone who claims to have special powers we encourage you to invite them to accept our challenge by offering you a $20,000 spotter's fee. You should be very sceptical of people who make claims of having psychic powers but are not willing to be tested. If you would like to receive more information about the Challenge, please send email to skeptics@spot.tt.sw.oz.au or contact your local branch.