A Fortuneteller Claimed He Could Ward Off Evil Spirits. Then He Allegedly Scammed an Elderly Woman Out of Thousands of Dollars

An astrologer in New York has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly scamming an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars for fortune-telling services.

According to the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), 33-year-old Hemanth Kumar Muneppa was arrested on Thursday, July 17, after allegedly asking a 68-year-old woman to withdraw $42,000 from her bank account.

Detectives said the woman initially visited a business in Hicksville, N.Y., on July 3 called Anjana Ji that offers astrology services such as psychic readings, according to its website. NBC 4 New York reported that Muneppa allegedly said that his services included the “power to fight evil spirits.”

That day, the woman — whose identity has not been made public — paid Muneppa $20,000 for fortune-telling services.

On July 17, the woman was “receiving further fortune-telling services” at Anjana Ji, located on the city’s South Broadway street, when she was allegedly asked to provide an additional $42,000. She was then driven to a nearby bank to withdraw the money.

“The victim was advised she may be being scammed, and police were called for assistance,” the NCPD said.

Officers who arrived at the bank then arrested Muneppa in the parking lot “without incident.”

Muneppa has been charged with grand larceny in the third degree, attempted grand larceny in the third degree and two counts of fortune telling, according to police.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 

Mehwish Saeed, who owns a clothing store near the astrology shop, told NBC 4 that she believes the employees there are “just making people a fool.”

“Playing with somebody’s feelings and giving them false hope. That’s really bad,” she told the outlet.

In New York, charging for fortune-telling services is considered a class B misdemeanor — which can result in a three-month jail sentence, according to the state — unless it’s being done solely for entertainment purposes.

“A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the aforedescribed conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement,” the law states.

Detectives are requesting that anyone else who may have been a victim in this case contact the NCPD Second Squad at (516) 573-6200.

Muneppa is next due in court on Aug. 14, court records show.