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By Alia Shoaib
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A man accused of orchestrating a fake psychic plot that swindled Americans out of more than $4 million has been extradited to the U.S. from Germany to face charges.
Mael Chemla, 61, is accused of conspiring to send thousands of victims across the U.S. letters purporting to contain personalized messages from psychics telling recipients they would receive a financial windfall but needed to pay a fee to claim it, according to a release from the Justice Department.
Chemla allegedly deposited the victims’ checks into U.S. bank accounts, under the names of the fake psychics, before wiring the money to European accounts controlled by a co-conspirator.
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Prosecutors allege the scheme collected the money between September 2016 and November 2020.
The release did not identify the victims’ states or give a precise victim count, but said many of those targeted were elderly and otherwise vulnerable.
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Chemla, who is a U.S., French, and Israeli national, and previously lived in Aventura, Florida, has been charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud.
The Justice Department said he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Newsweek reached out to the agency and Chemla’s attorney for comment via email on Wednesday.
Family Says Chemla Is Innocent
A GoFundMe page set up by Chemla's loved ones in October asked for donations to cover his legal expenses after he was detained in Germany in May.
They described him as a "beloved brother, father, and friend," and asked for donations to "give him the opportunity to defend himself and fight to prove his innocence."
The fundraiser said about Chemla: "One of his clients in France is facing prosecution for allegedly making false claims and engaging in false advertising. Although Mael acted solely as a service provider, he is also being targeted by the American justice system and faces up to 20 years in prison."
Chemla made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami on Monday, according to court documents.
How to Spot a Scam
The Federal Trade Commission warns Americans to be wary of anyone asking for an upfront payment to claim a prize or financial reward, noting that legitimate prizes are free.
It advises people to research unfamiliar companies and offers before sending money, and to avoid sharing financial or personal information with unverified contacts. Suspected scams can be reported to the FTC through its ReportFraud website.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which is investigating the case, also advises consumers to check out unfamiliar offers before responding to letters, avoid being pressured into making immediate payments and report suspected mail fraud through its website.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Mike Hirst.
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