A 67-year-old woman in Florida has been arrested for allegedly scamming a man out of thousands of dollars through fake tarot card readings and a so-called spiritual cleansing. Carmen Valdez De Miguel was taken into custody on Monday and is facing serious charges, including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
The incident began on March 11, when the victim found a flyer advertising tarot card readings on his car. Intrigued, he called the number listed and arranged a session for $20. He met Valdez De Miguel, who went by the name Maria Rodriguez, on March 13. During the reading, she convinced him that he needed a more extensive spiritual cleansing that would cost between $600 and $700.
Trusting her claims, the man made a partial payment of $200 via Zelle. He returned to her apartment on March 14 for the cleansing session he had already paid for. During this meeting, Valdez De Miguel asked the man about his bank balance. When he revealed he had $8,000, she suggested he bring the full amount next time, promising that if she used it in a ritual, it would double and be returned to him the same day.
On March 19, the man returned with $3,000 in cash. Valdez De Miguel placed the money in a bag with eggs as part of the ritual. However, when the bag was opened, it contained only broken eggs and worms. When the man asked for his money back, she claimed she couldn’t return it due to her state of mind but assured him he would get it back the next day.
Despite the bizarre circumstances, the man tried multiple times to contact her afterward, but she refused to return his money. Valdez De Miguel was eventually arrested, where she allegedly used a fake name and resisted officers. Investigators found that she had three outstanding warrants for similar theft cases.
During her court appearance, a judge set her bond at $5,500, commenting on the oddity of the situation. This case serves as a reminder to be cautious about responding to flyers or offers that seem too good to be true.