Fortune Teller Dupes Mom Of Two Out Of Nearly $90,000 In New York, Gets Arrested

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 18:32 IST

The victim, a mother of two, was reportedly saving the money to buy a house for her family.

Pamela Ufie, a self-proclaimed psychic, pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Friday (Pexels/Representative Image)

The curiosity to know all about her fortune cost a woman nearly $90,000 after she was scammed by a 28-year-old psychic. The fortune teller, based in Manhattan, has now been arrested by the New York Police Department. The allegedly self-proclaimed psychic, according to reports, duped the woman — a mother of two — in 2023.

A New York Times report suggests that Pamela Ufie was arrested by the NYPD on Thursday near Bryant Park. She was apprehended with the assistance of Bob Nygaard, a private detective and former police officer. He told the New York Post on Sunday that this was his fourth time helping the police with Ufie, stating, “She’s a self-proclaimed psychic who preys upon vulnerable people and steals from them."

The con reportedly began in April 2023, when the psychic approached the victim as she was walking through Times Square after work. She began talking about a dark energy surrounding the woman, but said she needed more time to research what she wanted to communicate. The victim, who works as a cleaner at an NYC hotel, gave Ufie $100 for her insight.

As the communication continued, the psychic allegedly warned the victim that if she failed to lift a “generational curse," she could lose her life. Not only that — she also claimed the victim’s son might die as a result. Seeking a remedy for the so-called curse, the victim agreed to pay. According to Nygaard, Ufie told the woman that money was the root of all evil and promised to return it after “cleansing" it.

However, the sum of $87,000 was never returned. The victim had reportedly been saving the money to buy a house for her family. After a two-year investigation following the scam, Ufie was finally arrested last week when Nygaard tipped off the police. Court documents suggest that she has been charged with one count of grand larceny and two counts of fraudulent accosting. Ufie pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Friday.

Nygaard stated that this is the fourth case involving Ufie. The first case occurred nearly 10 years ago, when her mother-in-law was accused of a similar scam. The New York Times report explains that it is illegal to accept money for “occult powers" in New York City, while fortune telling is classified as a Class B misdemeanour, which can result in up to 90 days in jail. However, people often mistakenly believe it is a civil matter.

Delhi, India, India

News world Fortune Teller Dupes Mom Of Two Out Of Nearly $90,000 In New York, Gets Arrested