5/2/2016 – Chapter One: Who is behind one of the biggest scams in history?

For more than a decade, the scheme has preyed on sick, elderly and vulnerable Americans. Here’s how it worked: Millions of people received letters promising that psychic guidance and talismans from the French clairvoyant Maria Duval were the secret to turning their lives around. All they needed to do was send in money. And the payments that victims sent in really added up. In the U.S. and Canada alone, investigators allege that the operation raked in more than $200 million in the last two decades.

In a recent five-part investigation, CNNMoney found that this has been far from the work of one woman — exposing the massive business network that appears to be keeping the international scam alive. In fact, we even went to France and spoke to Duval’s son, who claimed his mother is a victim herself and that she lost control of the use of her name long ago.

Watch Part 1 here.