Trickery seems to be the name of the game. Having something said that sounds unique to you but in reality is so generic it can apply to almost anyone in a different way.

I know people who got palm readings and were astounded by how the reader knew the things they did, without realizing the reader was just saying generic stuff to lead to the person into giving more information, in order to get a more accurate read. Astrology seems to work similarly, generic stuff that someone can apply to themselves in a unique way.

I don't neccesarily think its a smarts issue picking up on the fugazi, a fair bit is just skepticism. The people I knew weren't stupid.