False tarot reader defrauds elderly woman of over €400,000 with "purification" promises
A couple residing in Brazil was detained in Portugal after defrauding a woman of over €400,000 with alleged spiritual services. They were remanded in custody.
Couple detained in Portugal after defrauding woman of over €400,000 with esoteric rituals
The Judicial Police detained a couple on Saturday, suspected of defrauding a woman of over €400,000 by exploiting her emotional and psychological vulnerability, according to a statement from the Central Directorate of the PJ. The suspect presented herself as a tarot reader, promoting esoteric services on social media and on her own website.
According to CNN Portugal, since January this year the victim had been persuaded to make successive bank transfers and in-person cash deliveries. The pretext was that the money needed to be "blessed" and "purified" for the performance of spiritual work, with a promise of later return of the funds.
The couple lived in Brazil and travelled to Portugal for short periods exclusively to receive cash. They arrived in the country on Thursday, with a return trip to Brazil scheduled for the very Saturday of their detention.
On social media, the two displayed a luxurious lifestyle, with posts associated with displays of wealth. Both have criminal records in Brazil, and the woman had been detained in that country in 2015 for similar offences.
The couple's whereabouts were located thanks to collaboration and information exchange with foreign authorities. The detention also involved elements from the Northern Directorate of the PJ.
The two detainees were presented to court and were subjected to the precautionary measure of remand in custody.
Source: CNN Portugal