Authorities have arrested Aurora Phelps in Mexico City, who is accused of carrying out a series of romantic scams through dating apps in both the United States and Mexico. According to the allegations, Phelps would meet with men, mostly older, whom she drugged to subsequently gain access to their personal information and bank accounts. She used different aliases to avoid being identified and operated in cities such as Las Vegas, Henderson, and Bentonville, as well as in Mexican locations like Chapala, Ajijic, and Mexico City.
The FBI claims that the scammer is linked to the murder of at least three people. One victim was found dead in a hotel room in Mexico City. Furthermore, it was confirmed that she accessed one of the victims' E-Trade accounts to sell Apple shares valued at $3.3 million, although she was unable to withdraw the money. Phelps also faces charges such as digital fraud, identity theft, and a kidnapping that resulted in the victim's death.
Phelps's modus operandi involved contacting her victims through apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. Once she met with them, she would drug them to steal personal information, credit cards, make online purchases, and access their bank accounts and retirement funds. Between 2019 and 2022, the scammer used this method to operate and evade identification.
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings for Phelps's extradition and continue to search for more victims who may have been affected by her actions. Spencer Evans, an FBI agent, has stated that numerous victims have been identified in the United States and Mexico, and he has emphasized the importance of being alert to this type of scam through dating apps. Investigations reveal an increase in this type of fraud in Mexico, with a large number of affected users.
