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Two Pennsylvania “fortune tellers” were arrested last week and charged with “numerous felonies” after allegedly scamming their victims out of $600,000. According to prosecutors, the pair claimed to their victims that they could remove curses in exchange for monetary payment.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Jenkintown Police Chief Thomas M. Scott announced the arrests of Gina Marie Marks, 52, of Huntingdon Valley, and Steve Nicklas, 40, of Jenkintown in a press release. In the release, it was revealed that Marks and Nicklas allegedly bilked more than $600,000 from two female victims using their fortune telling scheme.
“Montgomery County Detective Bureau became aware of the thefts on Dec. 24, 2024, and began an investigation,” the release explained. “The investigation found that the victim initially contacted ‘Jenkintown Psychic Visions,’ located at 475 Old York Road, for a psychic phone reading. Detectives found that Marks and Nicklas convinced the 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.”
It goes on to allege that over a period of 11 months, the pair “demanded large sums of money and luxury items to ‘cleanse’ the curse, including jewelry, cash, clothing, concert tickets and gift cards.” They also allegedly requested the victim turn over personal items that were to be used in these rituals, saying the items would be returned, but they were not.
A second victim was allegedly instructed by Marks to provide photos and personal details about her life. The images requested became “increasingly personal” over time.
Marks is also alleged to have told the victim to give her “money and a Chanel purse, threatening the victim with reputational damage and personal repercussions if her instructions were not followed.” Financial records from Cash App, Zelle and a credit union confirmed that money from the victims were transferred into accounts belonging to Marks and Nicklas.
Nicklas and Marks were arrested and charged with multiple felonies 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. They each posted bail and were released from custody with a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 20.