I believe when people die, their souls leave their bodies and go elsewhere. But no person living on this earth can tap into that other dimension. He's a vulture in that he prays on peoples' grief. I'm not surprised to hear he is a former ballroom dancing instructor. A friend's mother got suckered into one of those deals and lost a lot of money.
Absolutely. He exploits their grief and their need for "closure" (oh, how I hate that word). It's hard to deal with a loved one's death, especially if that death was sudden or violent. Those who are left behind feel pain, anger and guilt. The desire to have just one more chance to tell the person that you loved him can be overwhelming, and I think this quack exploits that natural emotion as well.