Psychics scammed woman ‘plagued by a powerful curse’ out of $595,000, PA cops say

A pair of “fortune tellers” failed to see jail in their future when they conned clients into believing they were cursed and needed cleansing rituals, according to investigators in Pennsylvania.

Those rituals came at a cost of more than $600,000 in cash, jewelry, gift cards and more, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in an Oct. 8 news release.

Gina Marie Marks and Steve Nicklas operated the scam out of “Jenkintown Psychic Visions” in Jenkintown and lured in their victims via psychic readings, Steele said.

“Detectives found that Marks and Nicklas convinced (one) victim that she was plagued by a powerful curse preventing her from finding love and happiness and convinced her that a curse would destroy her marriage, business and family if it wasn’t removed,” prosecutors said.

“Over the course of 11 months — from Sept. 23, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023 — Marks and Nicklas demanded large sums of money and luxury items to ‘cleanse’ the curse, including jewelry, cash, clothing, concert tickets and gift cards. … In total, Marks and Nicklas stole $595,959 from the first victim.”

The investigation led to another woman who also reported being financially victimized by “Jenkintown Psychic Visions,” starting in June 2023, prosecutors said.

In that case, Marks made “unorthodox requests to satisfy rituals,” including at least $18,000 and a Chanel purse, prosecutors said. She then threatened “the victim with reputational damage and personal repercussions if her instructions were not followed,” Steele said.

Financial records confirmed money from the victims was transferred into accounts belonging to Marks and Nicklas, Steele said.

“These defendants, through their con scheme, preyed on people who were looking for help, guidance and hope, exploiting them for financial gain,” Steele said. “They are now going to be held accountable.”

Nicklas, 40, and Marks, 52, were arrested Oct. 7 and face charges including “corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, as well as fortune telling,” prosecutors said.

Bail was set at $50,000 for Marks and $25,000 for Nicklas, and both have been released, officials said.

Jenkintown is about a 15-mile drive north from Philadelphia.