Maria Duval
Maria Duval is the assumed name of a psychic (currently living in France) who’s made a reputation for herself. If you’ve gotten an email or letter recently saying you’re going to win the lottery or face certain doom without her help, then it wasn’t from her. Maria Duval sold her company, Astroforce back in 1997 and a group of (in my opinion) very unethical businesspeople have been sending these threat/promise letters out for years.
I just got off the phone with a guy who lost over $1,500 and spoken with several more in the last few months so it prompted this review. What they did to him was send a letter saying it was from Maria Duval and that he was going to win the lottery on January 13th. On the 14th he got another letter saying he won a 2 million dollar prize and that he’d have to buy some books in order to collect his prize, and pay some advance fee, and soon he was out over $1,500. They also claimed Maria Duval had a vision he faced certain doom, and to send another $100 to start her helping him avoid it.
It’s true that in down economic times, one of the things people do that they wouldn’t normally is consult a psychic. I won’t go into the debate of if Maria Duval or anyone else has psychic abilities. It’s just that if you’ve been sent a mysterious letter from Maria Duval, it’s not her. One place exploiting her name is based in Arizona, but most are in the UK.
Maria Duvals real name is Carolina Maria Gambia. I guess she changed her name to something more French sounding when she moved there (originally from Milan). Astroforce also sells their victims information to other direct marketers. If you send them money, there’s going to be around dozen other places sending you similar junk because you were just put on a “sucker list”.
I know when times are tough (economic or otherwise) people want hope, they want someone to assure them things will get better, but Astroforce and anyone claiming to be Maria Duval can’t help you. They’ll string you along to purchase a worthless piece of quartz to carry around, or a paper pentagram to keep under your pillow to protect you from “certain doom”. In the end, you’ll be out anywhere from $100 to $1,500 depending how long they can string you along. There are reputable places out there like Keen, but this isn’t one of them.
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June 19th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Hello,
you opinion seems to be : Maria Duval is not personnaly concerned by all these scams, because she sold Astoforce in 1997. Unfortunately, you’re wrong.In a recent french intervew (January ou February 2009) , she says : “I control 23 different firms in 23 different countries”. Bzw, she still owns the trademark “Astroforce”
November 18th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I have got a letter form Maria because I was wondering what was in store for the future. I have recieved many letters back and one of them was right on the money about me and who I was things that I was in store for and most of this is true. I even read the letter to my mother and she couldn’t believe how much was right. Tell me how this person could know all this.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Hi Sonia,
The woman herself has worked with police and all kinds of people because of her abilities. The problem is the con men sending out form letters using her name that don’t have any psychic ability. They’ve been mass mailing these form letters for years and aren’t associated with her. Of course they do it because she’s made a name for herself in that field. I haven’t heard any complaints about the woman herself, it’s the people pretending to represent her are the problem.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Hi there. I’m not certain if this will make and difference to anyone, but I did see an add in a magazine, and requested assistance from this “Maria Duval.” All I got back was something asking for money, and $90 at that. Lucky me, I did my research online and the scam is so widespead that I was amazed. I’m not saying the woman herself is doing this… But I can tell you I won’t be sending any money.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Please please do not send any money to Maria Duval or Destiny Research. Yes they are scammers. My father aged 79 has learned a hard lesson and lost thousands of dollars as these people were helping themselves to monthly deductions on his Visa card. He finally broke down and confided to me about all the money they have taken. Any correspondence that you get throw it in the garbage and delete the e-mails. Visa’s fraud division is looking into it so are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario. The mail gets sent to a post office box at 14-3650 Langstaff Road #100 Woodbridge Ontario Canada. They use a postal box at a UPS Store. Complained to the UPS Store too it will probably fall on deaf ears. SO DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN U! Your mailbox will get inundated with mail from this company. See RIPOFF REPORT for more information. Wished my father would have come to me sooner.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I am very surprised that nothing has been done about these scammers. I honestly didnt believe in it but was very curious so I sent 25.00. I recieved a “talisman” (photo of said Maria Duval) and have been bombarded with more mail almost every other day telling me they need money to make all my dreams come true. I think I will settle for regular prayer, its free and actually helps. Please people dont send your good money, the only thing your doing is making the scammers rich!
March 6th, 2010 at 1:03 am
I answered an add out of the 2010 Farmers Almanac advertising Maria Duval. You send your reply to 1285 Baring Blvd. #409 Sparks, NV 89434-8673. Is this a scam? I was going to send money until I looked her up on my computer and found all the bad about her, and that she wasn’t a real person.
March 6th, 2010 at 2:52 am
Hi Celie,
That’s not her, it’s someone doing business as her to get your money. the real Maria Duval lives in France and doesn’t send out spam or bulk mails. I noticed that when the economy tanked this page starting getting tons of traffic. I did some searching for statistics and they say during down economic, people looking for psychic advice goes way up and I believe it. There’s actually several places using her name illegally to send out these letters that you’ll hit the lottery or face certain doom unless you send them money for advice.