CNN’s journalists Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken embarked on a months-long investigation to search for the woman who is the face of one of the biggest cons in history — French psychic Maria Duval. The scam has lasted more than 20 years and has spanned more than a dozen countries. It has allegedly claimed at least 1.4 million victims in the United States alone.

Photos were limited for the cast and scenes for the story so illustrations were used.