Peter Popoff - the Televangelist Fraud

Peter Popoff is a 61 year old German born Televangelist who performs crusade services in Upland California where his ministry is held. Popoff tapes his crusades and puts them over national television often very early in the morning.

In the 1980's before Popoff was defrauded by professional skeptic James Randi, Popoff was pulling in over 4 million dollars per year "healing people" on his crusades. He pulled in all this money through donations. He would tell people to follow instructions which he would give them if they wanted to be cured. His instructions involved sending him several donations over and over again. James Randi had developed an idea to bring a radio scanner to one of Popoff's crusades to see if he could pick any radio signals telling Popoff what to say and do. This plan was genius, Randi sat down with his scanner and within a couple of minutes he could hear the voice of Popoff's wife Liz talking to the "reverend" through a wireless ear piece. Popoff's wife would obtain personal information off the back of prayer cards which the unsuspecting audience would fill out before the crusade. Liz would give her husband information like where somebody lived or their illness they hoped would get cured during the crusade. When Popoff received the message from his wife he would call out the persons name or address, that person would then come forward and the rest of the audience would believe Popoff's divine miracle powers simply because he knew what was wrong with them, their name and where they lived. Randi went on the tonight show with Jhonny Carson and revealed what he had found out about "reverend" Popoff. Peter Popoff then filed for bankruptcy in 1987.

Popoff resurfaced and is now better then ever. He still buys time on TV to play tapes of his crusades except now, he has a product. On programs, Popoff tried to "give for free" a tiny bottle of what he calls miracle spring water. All you have to do is call his number on the screen and answer questions a voice automated Popoff gives you such as your phone number, your prayer request and your name. He does send you a free bottle of the miracle spring water along with a tiny packet of what he calls dead sea salt which is really just an ordinary packet of salt you could pick up at any McDonalds. Popoff tells those who receive his spring water to follow his instructions or your miracle will not happen. His instructions are to sprinkle the salt over a check made out to Popoff for $27, then drink the miracle water, wait 5 days and your miracle will come true weather it is healing cancer or getting a $10,000 cheque.
After you follow those set of instructions, you will constantly start to receive mail from Popoff's ministry begging for more donations. One couple sent Popoff about $4,500 in total hoping they would get a cure for a disabled family member, by the end, the couple would not even have money left for food.

According to tax returns in 2005, Popoff had raked in over 23 million dollars in just one year. Popoff currently lives in a 2.1 million dollar home in California financed by donations he receives from people in need of a miracle. Popoff currently drives a $100,000 dollar Porch.

Popoff manages to keep and gain followers because he does give away some money. Popoff will grant some "miracles" which involve money. He will send members who have sent him enough money cheques for X amount of dollars. Popoff will then ask these people to write him testimonials which he can then use as proof that that person had indeed deceived a miracle. Peter Popoff is exploits not only the needy and desperate people, but he exploits God. Popoff is a proven fraud and crook and he must somehow be stopped and have his shows put to an end. Peter Popoff is not really even an ordained reverend, he is a scam artist who people continue to follow because they believe he can help them. In 2007, Inside Edition reporter Matt Mahar caught up with Peter Popoff in a parking lot and asked Popoff how he could justify taking all of this money from people who are desperate, Popoff did not answer and refused to answer any other questions.