Astrocat's Postal Scam Warning Page
(Astrology)(Maria Duval, etc)

It is possible that all or some of them are connected in a scam. Paloma Summer and CHRIS sent material from the same address, Tamalfa S.L., C/. Bot�nica, 103-105 08908-L�Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, until 2001. Mail, in white or coloured business-style envelopes, is often posted in the UK, but the Royal Mail will not tell me who is paying for the postage. Some mail bears the mark HQ7878, others have HQ4896.
According to the directory entry for 54 bis, route des Acacias, there is no resident named CHRIS, but there is a company called Esotal SARL.This name appears on the back of cleared cheques paid to CHRIS and Paloma Summer.

The style of the texts is broadly similar, often with US English spelling. Sometimes in a handwritten style font, but almost always personalised by the mail-merge facility in a word-processor. Some of them claim to type an individual letter, using Courier typeface to suggest that they are using a typewriter, not convincing as the result is too even. The high quality of the printing and paper, a printer estimated that it could cost £5-6,000 per 10,000 mailings, suggests that these are not small businesses, but are well organised and funded. It seems that they do not advertise, which suggests they use mailing lists or a network.

Despite their claims to be �world famous� they are known only in their own literature, and on scam-warning websites and media.

There is a Maria Duval website, but it has the same content as the printed output).

Each reply, containing such things as talismans, lucky numbers, magnetised portraits (sic), and predictions, is accompanied by details of yet another offer to help. This always involves sending even more money. David Phild supplied an audio tape containing a blend of whale sounds and synthetic music. It was not in the least relaxing to my ears. He then asked for £120 for a course in 'Magical Divination'. Paloma Summer was asking for £63, (a bargain, as she normally charges £139!) in 1999. Alternatively, you could buy luck at �12 per month! (Her words, not mine!) The copies of the cheques that I have obtained from the bank seem to confirm that a single account is used by Paloma Summer and CHRIS and thus is actually one and the same. The cheques are stamped "Union Bank of Switzerland" and "ESOTAL SARL".

A recent reply from Paloma Summer. was in an envelope where a label, with the name "Serdiman Direct" covered the original return address. It included a timetable for gambling for Jan to Apr 2000 with �Lucky Spiritualist Help� It seems to consist merely of a list of dates taken from an ordinary calendar.. My partner paid £39 for this, I managed to get a partial refund. A further period of help would cost £25 to be sent with a completed questionnaire. She promised to reveal to my partner what was really causing her bad luck! Several more requests for money have since arrived, using numerology this time. Her problems are really caused by taking advice from the wrong people, and not counting the cost before she acts. How anyone should believe that ones actions are influenced by the letters in their name amazes me. After all, your parents usually choose your name or give you a name handed down from generation to generation.

I have written to the Spanish Consulate in London for information on this outfit. The reply will be posted on this site in due course. (None received by Feb 2003.)

CHRIS actually suggested that my partner was a victim of witchcraft.

Anthony Carr claims that he has been consulted by astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Anthony Carr also claims to have advised the British Royal Family,
but I can�t ask HM The Queen, can I? I imagine that Prince Philip's comments would be unrepeatable and unprintable!

These charlatans hide behind PO box numbers, often in distant countries. I would be only too pleased to receive any assistance in exposing these people, and in helping to prevent desperate and/or gullible people from being ripped off by these smart but callous operators. I have original documents from most of them. I am in the process of claiming refunds on the grounds that the predictions are inaccurate but I am not confident of success.