In Santos, São Paulo, a 77-year-old man lost around R$ 150,000 to a con artist posing as a spiritual healer. The woman, known as 'Lúcia', lured the elderly man into believing she could perform spiritual rituals to ensure his health and well-being, leading him to make substantial payments. After a police investigation, she was indicted for qualified fraud, showcasing an alarming trend of elderly individuals being targeted by scammers using deceptive spiritual claims.

The police investigation revealed that the fraudster presented herself not only as a spiritualist but also as a tarot and palm reader, operating out of a rented space in the Gonzaga neighborhood. The authorities later discovered a pigeon and a hen at the premises, which were suspected to be part of the rituals she conducted. She was caught with promotional materials that were used to draw in clients, indicating a planned and organized fraudulent operation.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of the elderly population to scams, particularly those involving promises of health and healing. As these scams become more sophisticated, they reveal a critical need for heightened awareness and protective measures for older individuals in society. Community leaders and law enforcement are urged to take proactive steps to educate and support the elderly against such exploitation, emphasizing the importance of skepticism regarding unsolicited offers of deep personal and spiritual assistance.