Hingham, Massachusetts -- Hingham police are searching for the accomplice of a woman working as a psychic who's been accused of trying to bilk a customer out of thousands of dollars by promising to lift a curse from the client's daughter.
State prosecutors say Tiffany Crystal Smith, 23, ran a fortune-telling business that has conned more than one person, and now they're looking for her alleged accomplice.
Police claim the young psychic swindled a 69-year-old Pembroke woman by telling the woman her daughter was under a curse.
"She told her this several times, and said that if she didn't give (Smith) $16,000, her daughter would kill herself," said Assistant District Attorney Alexander Zane during Smith's arraignment.
The elderly victim went to Smith's Psychic and Card reading business on Whiting Street in Hingham with a $7,000 check and a $500 dollar ring. Smith allegedly told her it wasn't enough.
"She also took out a bag and threw a red substance on the floor saying that would be her daughter's blood," said Zane.
Surveillance photos show a second suspect at a bank teller's window cashing the victim's check. Police said Teresa Nichols, 43 of Albany, N.Y., is wanted as well.
"The victim got home and had some second thoughts, called her bank, and it it was less than 24 minutes (from when) she got home, and the check had already been cleared," said Hingham Sgt. Stephen Dearth.
Police claim she was not the only victim, nor was it the first time a scam had taken place. They said Smith was booked three years ago after she was charged with swindling vulnerable clients.
"Same kind of case basically, in Lakeville. She was posing as a psychic and the case involved a mentally handicapped child," said Zane.
Although Smith's card reading business has not been shut down, Hingham is looking to take action. Smith, a mother of two, was ordered by the judge to be handcuffed and taken to jail. She was released on bail and is due in court on April 30.
