Last updated August 1, 2024 – 3:03pm
“Smoke Screen: The Greatest Scam Ever Written” is the latest season of the popular investigative podcast series that looks into shocking cases of fraud.
In this season of Smokescreen, journalist and host Rachel Brown recounts the complex handwritten letter scam surrounding French psychic Maria Duval that victimized hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Brown examines how members of the public received personalized letters from Duvall, offering goodwill and wealth in exchange for small amounts of money. The decades-long crime scheme exploited people's desire for a better life.
One victim, who suffered from dementia, began to believe the only way to be cured was to send money through the mail, which she did.
This season will focus on the journey to discover who Maria Duval really was, through first-hand encounters with victims and police, tracing the story to its true roots and exposing the shocking truth behind one of the most elaborate fronts of the 21st century.
“People were fascinated by French psychic Maria Duval, hoping that she would guide them through the letters she wrote about them,” Rachel Brown said. “Little did they know that a much larger plot was at work and that the get-rich-quick man showed no remorse.”
Produced by Sony Music Entertainment in association with ITN Productions, Smoke Screen: The Greatest Scam Ever Written is available on The Binge as well as major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
