U.S. attorney sees into psychics’ future: Mailings to stop

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said Monday that they have blocked from operating in the United States an international psychic ring that made $180 million by duping victims.

The government said the scam used mass mailings of letters from purported psychics Maria Duval and Patrick Guerin claiming they had visions of the recipient winning a lottery, getting an inheritance or having other good luck if they would purchase goods or services from the operators of the scheme.

Five individuals and three companies from Canada, Hong Kong and France agreed to an injunction that bans them from sending the solicitations or ads through the U.S. mail, which claim buying products will increase the odds of winning the lottery or other good fortune.

“To line their own pockets, the defendants preyed upon the superstition and desperation of millions of vulnerable Americans,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said.