LINK to CNN Article: Another "Psychic" ripping off millions.
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It all centers around a French "psychic" named Maria Duval. In letters, interviews and Internet videos seen around the globe, Duval says she has had visions of the world exploding and humans living in space. She claims to have successfully predicted election results, forecast winning lottery numbers and helped police investigate crimes. And millions of people have been convinced by her "personalized" letters that she can help them, too.
Typical con-artist. Convincing people with impaired reasoning that (1) she is their best friend, (2) she has special powers, and (3) she only wants to help. She sells worthless "magical" trinkets for thousands of dollars, and promises that her clients' fondest wishes will be granted, if they would send more money.
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... the scheme's massive success stems from its ability to take advantage of emotionally and financially vulnerable people. Many of its victims are elderly, often suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. Others are lonely or depressed and are touched that someone is thinking of them.
Of course, Mme. Duval's own website features testimonials, allegedly from her adoring fans.
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Duval's own website showcased glowing testimonials from happy customers, international press clippings and links to media appearances and video clips where a French-speaking woman claiming to be Duval speaks about her psychic "gift."
What her website does not reveal is the darker side to her activities.
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But the search also revealed website upon website filled with emotional complaints from people who had been scammed out of their savings. Through our research, we learned of an 88-year-old U.S. military veteran who sent Duval $4,000 hoping to win the lottery so he could afford assisted living. And a young British girl who reportedly drowned with one of Duval's letters in her pocket after becoming obsessed with the psychic.
So, how does someone become one of her victims? It usually starts with a seemingly innocent article or a post on a website asking for personal details.
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It starts with so-called sucker lists. Federal court documents claim Duval's network zeroed in on potential victims by purchasing personal details, like names and addresses from data brokers that typically sell this information to marketers or retailers. Advertisements placed in newspapers around the world have solicited this data too. These ads sometimes don't mention Duval's name at all. Instead they ask readers to send in everything from their zodiac sign and time of birth to their marital status -- all under the guise of a research study where they could end up winning large amounts of money.
Familiar? I hope so. Think twice about participating in alleged "studies", even when the alleged "researcher" seems legitimate.
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Duval herself remains a mystery. Even though her name is on all of the letters, international investigators can't figure out who she really is -- prompting people around the world to come up with their own theories. Some say she is actually the brainchild of an elderly Argentinean man, or cooked up by someone in Singapore. Many are adamant she's a real person enjoying a luxurious retirement in the South of France, while others are convinced she is the creation of criminal cartels. It is unclear whether Maria Duval is a real person or a fictitious character.
So, if Mme. Duval is a real person, she has masterminded one of the biggest scam since Bernie Madoff was a free man. If she is not a real person (the person in the videos at be a hired actor or a co-conspirator), then this scam is still one of the biggest money-generating scams in history.
But where is the money actually going? Colombian drug lords? Argentina? Singapore? ISIS? The investigation is on-going, and more details are to follow.
The bottom line: Be VERY careful of what kind of information you give to an on-line stranger, even if that stranger seems friendly and sympathetic, and especially if that stranger promises to "magically" solve all of your problems for you. Report all "psychics" to the moderators, whether they post in one of the forums or send you a private message.
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The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.
25 Feb 2016, 10:51 am
for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.
