The architects of an alleged $180 million U.S. mail fraud scam have agreed to stop advertising on behalf of psychics, clairvoyants or astrologers as part of a settlement with U.S. prosecutors, the Justice Department said, May 9. (#Society, #astrology, #scam, #fraud, #community, @Siliconeer, #Siliconeer)<\/p>\n
Eight individuals and entities in Canada, Hong Kong, France and Switzerland had been charged in a civil case with marketing false claims via U.S. mail to the elderly and other vulnerable consumers.<\/p>\n
The alleged scammers claimed that psychics had a “specific personalized vision” of how to achieve great wealth, including by winning the lottery. Recipients were urged to purchase products and services, the Justice Department said.<\/p>\n
The messages were sent in “identical, mass produced form letters” that targeted the “desperate, elderly and infirm,” the department said.<\/p>\n
It said the scam garnered payments totaling more than $180 million from more than one million Americans.<\/p>\n
“To line their own pockets, the defendants preyed upon the superstition and desperation of millions of vulnerable Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Capers.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Under a consent decree, the eight defendants agreed to a permanent injunction on mail solicitations with claims about astrology, winning the lottery, bringing good luck or receiving an inheritance.<\/p>\n
The agreement also authorized the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to return any money or personal checks detained by the U.S. agency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The architects of an alleged $180 million U.S. mail fraud scam have agreed to stop advertising on behalf of psychics, clairvoyants or astrologers as part of a settlement with U.S. prosecutors, the Justice Department said, May 9. (#Society, #astrology, #scam, #fraud, #community, @Siliconeer, #Siliconeer) Eight individuals and entities in Canada, Hong Kong, France and Switzerland…<\/p>\n