A Sinister Romance Scam: Woman Used Dating Apps to Drugged and Rob Seniors
Las Vegas, February 22, 2025
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old dual citizen of Mexico and the US, has been arrested and faces 21 counts in connection with a "romance scam on steroids" that targeted elderly men, according to Sue Fahami, acting US attorney for the district of Nevada.
The men she targeted were all lonely and seeking companionship. After going on dates with them, Phelps would secretly administer sedatives, rendering them unconscious.
While the men were incapacitated, Phelps stole their cars, withdrew money from their accounts, used their credit cards for lavish purchases, and even attempted to access their social security and retirement accounts.
In one instance, Phelps allegedly kidnapped a victim by heavily sedating him and taking him across the US-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel room, where he was later found dead.
According to the indictment, Phelps met one victim in July 2021, went on dates with him, and slipped him a prescription drug that rendered him "mostly unconscious" for five days. During this time, she stole his iPhone, iPads, and bank cards, as well as accessing his E-Trade account and selling Apple stock worth approximately $3.3 million.
Authorities believe Phelps used popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to find her targets. The FBI has been aware of her activities for a few years and is currently working with Mexican authorities to secure her extradition.
Phelps faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges, which include wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping.
The FBI is seeking information from potential victims who may have been targeted by Phelps' scams and urges anyone with information to come forward.