The Commerce Commission is advising people to throw away letters from "a highly-regarded psychic" offering to give information about how to win more than $300,000.
The "psychic" has written to people in several towns and cities offering the information for $59.
The "handling fee" also entitles you to:
*Lucky dates.
*A detailed personal horoscope.
*A
bad vibrations advisory.
*A free gift.
Police and the Commerce Commission believe the offer is a scam and are advising people to pay nothing and throw away the letters, which are sent under the name of Auckland-based psychic and astrologer Antoinette de Ville.
Two Whangarei residents complained to police this week after respective family members received the letters. Both letters claimed Ms de Ville had dreamt about the respective recipients winning $322,608. Both letters were identical except for the names and addresses of the recipients.
In exchange for lucky numbers that would help the letter recipient win the money, Ms de Ville asked that a $59 "handling fee" be sent to a Ponsonby, Auckland, post office box.
In the letters, Ms de Ville claimed she would normally charge $1000 to $2000 for such a service.
Whangarei police Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ruth said there was nothing police could do unless a deliberate intent to defraud could be proved.
Commerce Commission spokesman Vince Cholewa said the letter sounded like a New Zealand version of a British letter that had been circulating.
The commission had not investigated the letters and simply advised people to throw them away.
In the letters, Ms de Ville does offer a money-back guarantee if the recipient does not experience "cosmic good fortune" and win money within 12 months of paying the $59.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
