An investigation into Carlos and alleged psychic doing business in the riverside areas, was being investigated by the Riverside Economic Crime’s Unit. The initial investigation began sometime last summer. Carlos was estimated as bilking over 50,000 dollars from just one of his alleged fraud victims.
Where is it we have seen some one pretending to be a psychic and then charging tons of cash to remove curses. People go for these scams because sometimes they want to believe and in some ways that makes them vulnerable.
Local headlines read”
LOCAL “FORTUNE TELLER” ARRESTED FOR FRAUDRIVERSIDE, CA – The Riverside Police Department’s Economic Crimes Unit began an investigation this summer into “fortune teller” business in Riverside, located in the 3500 block of Arlington Avenue. Detectives learned a female victim visited the business to have her fortune read. The suspect was described as a Columbian national who went by the name “Carlos,” convinced the victim she had parasites in her body, to which she paid him several hundred dollars to clear her of. “Carlos” later contacted the victim and explained she and her family were cursed and he needed more money to rid her of it. He continued to convince the victim her children were also in trouble, and through his false pretenses, the victim ended up paying “Carlos” over $50,000 dollars.Detectives were able to positively identify the suspect fortune teller as 31-year-old Andres Pena Meneses of Riverside. They also learned Mr. Meneses had a prior arrest and conviction in late 2019 in Chicago for a similar fraud in which he portrayed himself as a “faith healer” and stole money from victims.This past Tuesday on October 26, 2021, Economic Crimes Unit Detectives, with assistance from Property Crimes Unit Detectives and officers assigned to the Problem Oriented Policing Team, served a search warrant at Mr. Meneses home and business in Riverside. As a result of the search, detectives located a significant amount of cash, along with several items such as a voodoo doll, tarot cards, altars, religious and satanic type objects, and a small live snake that were used as part of the fraud Mr. Meneses was committing.While at the business conducting the search, several customers arrived and told detectives Mr. Meneses instructed them to bring their bed mattress from home. They went on to say Mr. Meneses and his staff would cut open the mattress and claim to have found the live snake inside with demonic type items and letters stating the victims’ famiy was in danger. The snake appeared to be a small pet python and detectives located its carrying container inside the business during their search.Additional victims contacted said the suspect advertised his services on the radio, and he would tell them they were cursed and to pay him money in order to rid them of their ailments such as diabetes, headaches, sleep disorders, and nightmares.Mr. Meneses was arrested and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for grand theft and theft by false pretenses, both felonies. He was released later that day after posting $57,000 bail.Detectives believe there are other people who have been victimized by Andres Pena Meneses who have not yet come forward. If you believe you are a victim, or you have additional information regarding this investigation and arrest, please contact Detective Cory Camp at (951) 353-7117 or CCamp@RiversideCA.gov.