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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS Prosecutors Say They've Shut Down Fake Psychic Scam
Source: Associated Press
US Prosecutors Say They've Shut Down Fake Psychic Scam
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK May 9, 2016, 5:06 PM ET
Federal prosecutors in New York said Monday they have shut down a fake psychic scam that lured gullible Americans to part with $180 million.
The defendants including two alleged psychics from France, a Canadian direct marketing company called Infogest and Hong Kong-based Destiny Research Center Ltd. have signed a consent decree barring them from using the U.S. mail to send letters claiming they can boost people's chances of inheriting money or winning the lottery, U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said.
"To line their own pockets, the defendants preyed on the superstition and desperation of millions of vulnerable Americans," Capers said. "We will use every means at our disposal to protect our citizens from fraudulent schemes like this that target the lonely, the ill and the elderly."
Prosecutors said the defendants sent letters supposedly from self-described psychics Maria Duval and Patrick Guerin of France claiming that the psychics had a vision of the recipients achieving great wealth.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK May 9, 2016, 5:06 PM ET
Federal prosecutors in New York said Monday they have shut down a fake psychic scam that lured gullible Americans to part with $180 million.
The defendants including two alleged psychics from France, a Canadian direct marketing company called Infogest and Hong Kong-based Destiny Research Center Ltd. have signed a consent decree barring them from using the U.S. mail to send letters claiming they can boost people's chances of inheriting money or winning the lottery, U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said.
"To line their own pockets, the defendants preyed on the superstition and desperation of millions of vulnerable Americans," Capers said. "We will use every means at our disposal to protect our citizens from fraudulent schemes like this that target the lonely, the ill and the elderly."
Prosecutors said the defendants sent letters supposedly from self-described psychics Maria Duval and Patrick Guerin of France claiming that the psychics had a vision of the recipients achieving great wealth.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-prosecutors-shut-fake-psychic-scam-38993257
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US Prosecutors Say They've Shut Down Fake Psychic Scam (Original Post)
Eugene
May 2016
OP
wow, so they shut down an operation that netted less than 200 million. the banks and oil
niyad
May 2016
#12
I called a psychic hotline, they asked for a CC, I said "guess it". They hung up. nt
Logical
May 2016
#13
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)1. I bet the fake psychics didn't see THAT coming (nt)
libodem
(19,288 posts)7. Heeheehee
Response to Nye Bevan (Reply #1)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
malaise
(269,211 posts)2. And they're not shutting down
religious institutions?
What's the prosperity gospel about???
We both thought the same thing.
malaise
(269,211 posts)8. Great minds and all that
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)3. Is that like a fake religious scam?
The psychics should just say it's a religious faith.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)4. As opposed to real psychics ???????
47of74
(18,470 posts)6. Reminded me of Miss Cleo
Kaleva
(36,357 posts)10. The psychics didn't see that coming.
edhopper
(33,635 posts)11. why call it a fake psychic scam
that's like saying I swam in a wet lake full of water.
Just say psychic, the rest is a given.
niyad
(113,600 posts)12. wow, so they shut down an operation that netted less than 200 million. the banks and oil
companies, big pharma, and the mic are still operating, to the tune of trillions. let me know when they go after some seriously large crooks.
Logical
(22,457 posts)13. I called a psychic hotline, they asked for a CC, I said "guess it". They hung up. nt
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)14. "fake psychic" is redundant.
hatrack
(59,593 posts)15. Uh . . . which one?
Iggo
(47,574 posts)16. LOL...fake psychics.
I bet real psychics can't stand those lying motherfuckers.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)17. "Fake Psychic"? That implies that there are real ones.
They're ALL fakes.