8 people have been charged in a fortune-telling con that allegedly extracted $40 million from its victims, including one very popular author.
Prosecutors say a family of gypsies amassed $40 million in a fortune-telling scam, warning victims that if they didn’t follow their advice, terrible things would happen to them or their loved ones.
Details spilled out in federal court Friday after eight people were arrested earlier this week.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurence Bardfeld said victims who were going through vulnerable phases forked over cash, gold coins and jewelry. The defendants promised victims they wouldn’t spend the money, but then refused to return it.
Dishonest con artists? What a shock.
The Sun Sentinel reported that one victim, a bestselling author, gave an estimated $20 million.
Citing “several sources,” the newspaper identified that victim as Jude Deveraux, author of dozens of New York Times bestsellers.
This is the same kind of psychological fraud perpetrated on followers by televangelists and faith healers. Never forget that irrationality has consequences.
17 comments
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Herod the Freemason
August 23, 2011 at 11:30 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“Fake psychics” is redundant.
Aquaria
August 23, 2011 at 11:50 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Citing “several sources,” the newspaper identified that victim as Jude Deveraux, author of dozens of New York Times bestsellers.
It’s disgusting that a hack like that made 20 mil from writing her hack romance novels.
steve oberski
August 23, 2011 at 11:51 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
eight people were arrested earlier this week
You think they would have seen that coming.
Wes
August 23, 2011 at 11:58 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Which makes you wonder why these bozos got arrested, but the Christian Broadcast Network remains on the air.
Oh, that’s right. Because of Jesus. He’s all magical and shit, so it’s not really outright, deliberate fraud.
Chris from Europe
August 23, 2011 at 11:59 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Who is the actor idiot?
Chris from Europe
August 23, 2011 at 12:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, I misread.
TomG
August 23, 2011 at 12:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Aquaria – I haven’t read any Jude Deveraux novels (nor do I intend to), but I don’t know why you seem so mad at her (“disgusted”? Really?). No one is making you buy her books, are they? I feel bad that she was taken advantage of, but she is entitled to earn her money by writing “hack” novels. It’s more honest than being a politician.
Michael
August 23, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can get all their money back for them if they’re interested. My fee is quite reasonable.
Marcus Ranum
August 23, 2011 at 1:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
How is what the fortune-tellers did any different from what happens in church?
Hercules Grytpype-Thynne
August 23, 2011 at 1:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Which is why I only ever deal with the real ones.
Doug Little
August 23, 2011 at 1:42 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So when are they going to go after every church in the land? They all separate the credulous from their wealth.
rob
August 23, 2011 at 1:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
seems to me they were excellent fortunetellers. i bet they all sat around one day and said to each other. “i see our future. we are gonna make millions from bilking the credulous!”
they were spot on.
Dr X
August 23, 2011 at 1:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
According to the article, they took money and valuables to be “cleansed,” promising to return the valuables to their customers. They didn’t.
Abby Normal
August 23, 2011 at 2:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is one crime where I really struggle with not blaming the victim. Don’t know why I feel the need air my dirty laundry like that. But there it is.
harold
August 23, 2011 at 5:31 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
They have an even better scheme.
It looks to me as if the chargeable crime here is only “the defendants promised victims they wouldn’t spend the money, but then refused to return it”.
Quite bluntly, most of the time, if money is wasted on magic, but both parties claim to believe in the magic, it isn’t a crime.
In New York City, it’s technically illegal to tell fortunes, but the fine is $5 and there are “psychics” all over the place. Not only that, but, non-lawyer though I am, I can’t see that law being upheld if challenged. First amendment.
The CBN types have a huge advantage in that they can take a small amount from each of a large number of people, which generates far less heat than taking a large amount from each of a small number of people.
ArtK
August 23, 2011 at 7:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
And, in other news, water continues to be wet.
Pierce R. Butler
August 24, 2011 at 10:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
… the newspaper identified that victim as Jude Deveraux…
Damn. I was really hoping it was an Anne – Rice or Coulter.