By Tim Binnall
A pair of purported psychics in Pennsylvania have been arrested for allegedly bilking two women out of more than $600,000 in what authorities described as a "fortune telling scheme." The unfortunate yet all too familiar case came to light last Wednesday when authorities announced the arrest of Gina Marie Marks and Steve Nicklas, who had been operating a soothsaying shop in the community of Jenkintown. According to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, the matter began in 2022 when one of the victims sought out the psychics for some supernatural insight and received a rather worrisome diagnosis derived from the proverbial ether.
"Marks and Nicklas convinced the victim that she was plagued by a powerful curse preventing her from finding love and happiness," the DA's office explained, alleging that the self-described mystics "demanded large sums of money and luxury items" as a means of removing the nightmarish hex. Their costly consultation continued for nearly a year, with the victim ultimately paying them a staggering $595,959 before she grew suspicious of the situation and contacted police. An investigation into her complaint led authorities to a second woman who was said to have suffered a similar experience with the psychics.
In this instance, the DA's office detailed that the victim was also told that she was cursed and needed to provide money as well as personal photos and information to Marks "to satisfy rituals that would help her." When the woman complied, detectives found that the aforementioned mystic "demanded more money and a Chanel purse, threatening the victim with reputational damage and personal repercussions if her instructions were not followed." All told, the second victim paid Marks approximately $18,000 for her psychic 'services.' Following their arrest, the accused charlatans were charged with "multiple felonies" with a preliminary hearing on the case set for later this month.