And now to an electronic immigrant who ought to be illegal, but apparently isn't.

You can find him doing his stuff at 3am on Channel Nine:

God has used Reverend Peter Popoff throughout his entire life and ministry to bring miraculous deliverance to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. — Channel Nine, 'Peter Popoff Ministries', 21st April, 2009

It's not clear - and the Nine Network wouldn't tell us - whether Peter Popoff is paying to have his half-hour message aired.

But whether he is, or he isn't, it's clearly an exercise in spruiking a product: "miracle spring water":

We're going to share the miracle spring water with you. And I'm going to tell you how a Russian pastor found the miracle spring water, not on his own but through divine leading and direction and God miraculously spared, prospered, delivered him and God wants to do the same for you as you use the miracle spring water. — Channel Nine, 'Peter Popoff Ministries', 21st April, 2009

And as you can see, this miracle water is ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Which is clever of the Reverend Popoff. Because if he were selling you the miracle water, which he says has the power to transform your life, he'd be engaging in trade or commerce.

And under the Trade Practices Act, a person or corporation...

...must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is liable to mislead the public about the nature...of any services — Trade Practices Act 1974, section 75

Read section 75 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

Peter Popoff has form.

Back in the early 80's, he was a celebrated faith healer, who miraculously knew the names and addresses of individuals scattered through his congregations...

Peter Popoff: 1627 10TH Street, is that right? Audience member: That's right! — Youtube web video

And without asking, he knew their ailments too...

Peter Popoff: Burning this arthritis right out of your body. Take a few steps just to make the devil mad, hallelujah — Youtube web video

But, thanks to the detective work of an American sceptic called James Randi, the hoax was exposed - on camera:

Elizabeth Popoff: Jodi Dean. Jodi Dean Peter Popoff: Jodi...Dean? Jodi Dean? Elizabeth Popoff: No, she should be right there on your right side. Ok. She lives at 4267 Masterson... Peter Popoff: 4267 Masterson? I can see the angels of God all around your house... — American Broadcasting Corporation, Inside Edition, web video, February 2007

The female voice was that of Peter Popoff's wife Elizabeth, prompting him via a wireless earpiece from information she'd garnered before the service.

Shortly after that was aired on national TV, Popoff filed for bankruptcy.

But for the last decade he and Elizabeth have been back in the game.

Matt Meagher: According to tax returns, Popoff's Ministry took in more than $23million in 2005... — American Broadcasting Corporation, Inside Edition, web video, February 2007

In February 2007, reporter Matt Meagher, of the US TV program Inside Edition, described how Popoff made his money...

Matt Meagher: Our miracle water came with what Popoff calls a bag of sacred Dead Sea salt. I'm supposed to sprinkle it over a cheque, made out to Popoff, for $27 dollars... As for the miracle water, I'm supposed to drink it, wait five days, and I'll be blessed with riches. Of course I'm supposed to send Popoff another cheque. — American Broadcasting Corporation, Inside Edition, web video, February 2007

And once the demands started, they didn't stop.

As Peter Popoff knows, the world is full of desperate and gullible people.

The Western Australian Department of Commerce runs a website called ScamNet.

It pulls no punches about Peter Popoff:

There is nothing more evil then using people's faith to line your own pockets! — WA ScamNet psychic scam

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority banned Popoff's infomercials two years ago.

But in Australia, so far, the regulators have done nothing.

Perhaps because it's not clear which regulator should act. If Popoff is paying Nine, it's an advertisement, and should comply with the Australian Advertisers' Code of Ethics, which says:

Advertising or Marketing Communications shall not be misleading or deceptive or be likely to mislead or deceive. — AANA Code of Ethics, section 1.2

Read the AANA Code of Ethics.

If Popoff isn't paying Nine, but just giving this guff to the Network for free, it becomes a program.

In fact Nine has the gall to refer to it as:

Peter Popoff Religious program — Channel Nine online schedule

Religious program! I prefer what ScamNet calls it - a:

psychic scam. — WA ScamNet psychic scam

We know of one Australian network that's refused to put Peter Popoff to air.

But Nine, apparently has no such qualms.