Astrologer Busted In $62K Scam

Photo: Nassau County Police

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – Hemanth Kumar Muneppa, 33, used astrology and spiritual claims to defraud an elderly woman out of more than $60,000 by promising fortune-telling and “evil spirit removal” services.

According to Nassau County police, Muneppa began his scheme on July 3, when a 68-year-old woman visited “Anjana Ji,” a Hicksville business offering astrology services. He initially charged her $20,000 for a spiritual reading. Days later, he allegedly told her she needed to pay an additional $42,000 for further rituals and spirit removal.

Muneppa then drove the woman to her bank to withdraw the money. Alert bank staff, suspicious of the large transaction, contacted authorities. Police arrested Muneppa in the parking lot of the bank on July 17 without incident.

He has been charged with grand larceny and fortune-telling.

Under New York law, charging money for fortune-telling or related services—such as claims of exorcising evil spirits—is illegal unless offered solely for entertainment.

Nassau County Police are asking anyone with information or who believes they may have been victimized to contact them at 516-573-6200.