Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old woman currently in custody in Mexico, has been charged with a series of serious crimes linked to a romance scam targeting older men through dating apps. Allegedly, she drugged at least four victims with sedatives, leading to the deaths of three individuals, one of which she is charged with causing.
The FBI described her actions as a “romance scam on steroids”, revealing that Phelps used popular dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble to engage lonely men, gaining their trust before incapacitating them. Once her victims were sedated, she confiscated their vehicles, accessed their bank accounts, and made extravagant purchases using their credit cards. Notably, she is accused of administering prescription drugs to one victim over a week, allowing her to steal over $3 million regarding stocks and other assets.
Authorities believe there may be more victims across the US and Mexico. Relatives raised concerns when they could not reach their loved ones after dates with Phelps. If convicted, Phelps faces a potential life sentence for numerous charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death. The FBI is working to secure her extradition to face justice in the US.