Erik von Markovik (born Erik James Horvat-MarkoviÃÂ; September 24, 1971), more popularly known by his stage name Mystery, is a Canadian pickup artist and television personality. He was profiled in Neil Strauss's ' and he appeared on the VH1 television show The Pickup Artist.
He has been criticized for promoting unethical and manipulative behavior.
His work has also been used to help people to initiate long-term stable relationships, as the study "The Dating Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and the Emerging Science of Human Courtship", done using his book The Mystery Method.
The character Mystery was created by Erik von Markovik in the late 1990s for his performances as a mentalist, titled Natural Magic. He has done magic performances in many places, including Toronto, Las Vegas and Hollywood. The name Mystery was also used by von Markovik as an internet username.