A woman from Las Vegas, Aurora Phelps, has been arrested for allegedly running a dangerous romance scheme that targeted older men using dating apps. Officials say she lured these men in, drugged them, and then stole their money. Her actions have led to a tragic outcome, with reports indicating that at least two men she scammed have died.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada has charged Phelps, 43, with a total of 21 offenses. This includes serious charges like wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft. One of the charges even relates to kidnapping, which resulted in a death. If found guilty on all counts, she could spend the rest of her life in prison.
Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, where she is believed to have met some of her victims. She would typically find older men through dating services, meet them in person, and then drug them. This allowed her to access their finances and take money for herself and her family.
The indictment describes four victims but suggests that there may be more. The FBI has set up a page for anyone who believes they may have been targeted by Phelps to reach out.
The scheme reportedly began in 2021 when Phelps met an elderly man and slipped a prescription drug into his food. This left him “mostly unconscious” for days. She then stole his electronics, bank cards, and even attempted to sell his stocks, transferring $64,000 to her husband’s account.
In another case, Phelps met a different elderly man for dinner in November 2022. After drugging him, she forced him to authorize credit card charges while he was confused. Eventually, she took him to Mexico City, where he tragically died in a hotel room that she had paid for using his card. During this time, she withdrew money and made numerous purchases using his accounts.
In yet another instance, a man who met Phelps in Guadalajara went missing after leaving the hotel with her. Phelps is accused of not only making fraudulent transactions but also opening new accounts in his name to steal his Social Security payments.
The pattern of Phelps’s alleged actions is shocking. After going on a date with another man in Guadalajara, he was found dead shortly afterward. Phelps continued to use his financial accounts, making purchases in the days that followed.
Authorities are still investigating the case and looking for any additional victims. Phelps’s alleged method of targeting vulnerable individuals raises serious concerns about safety on dating apps and the need for vigilance among users.
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