Indian-origin man arrested in New York for fortune telling

An Indian fortune-teller has been arrested in Hicksville, New York, by the Nassau County Police Department for allegedly duping a woman out of $20,000, as per the local police.

According to detectives, a 68-year-old female victim paid a fortune teller, 33-year-old Hemanth Muneppa, $20,000 for fortune-telling services on July 3.

The woman reportedly believed that evil spirits were targeting her and sought help from Muneppa, who works at a psychic and astrology business called Anjani Ji on South Broadway.

On July 17, while receiving further fortune-telling services at Anjani Ji, located at 414C South Broadway, the woman was instructed to pay an additional $42,000 and was driven to a bank on Broadway to withdraw the money.

At the bank, she was advised that she might be the victim of a scam, after which she contacted the police.

Officers arrested Muneppa without incident in the parking lot. 

Muneppa was later released on bail and has pleaded not guilty.

Fortune-telling services are illegal in New York unless conducted solely for entertainment purposes.