Schwartz has been criticized by claimed psychics and skeptics alike. The skeptics include James Randi, Robert Todd Carroll, Paul Kurtz and Psychologist Ray Hyman. Schwartz wrote a response to Hyman in May 2003 to which Hyman wrote a rebuttal to in the same May issue.
Some of Schwartz research subjects have been critical of him. For example, DuBois criticized Schwartz's book The Truth About Medium as a "feeble attempt to cash in" on her publicity. Claimed psychic Laurie Campbell appeared on Geraldo at Large and when asked by Geraldo if Schwartz was ethical Campbell replied, "Well, I think with my resignation it kind of shows in 2005 that I felt he was highly unethical and I can no longer be connected to his program or the university."
On October 6, 2007 two parents of a deceased son appeared on Geraldo at Large claiming that Schwartz sought 3.3 million dollars from them. The parents said that Schwartz claimed "He was going to become a chairman of a new corporation that was going to exist from the otherside and was going to help the world, but what I wanted was ... all Knopf had to do, the professor said, is provide him with $3.3 million". Michael Knopf wrote him out an installment check of $50,000. Geraldo noted that investigations by the Arizona Attorney General found that while his actions were unethical, he did not violate any laws. Even still Geraldo criticized Schwartz's actions and the university for funding him.
In reponse to the news report Schwartz wrote the 'Geraldo at Large' "...segment was highly selective and biased in its reporting". He further added that, "Geraldo made a point on the show of reporting that Dr. Schwartz did not return their calls, with an implicit negative connotation."
