Federal authorities have arrested a woman accused of scamming elderly men out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Las Vegas. Aurora Phelps, 43, was caught in Mexico after allegedly drugging, robbing, and stealing the identities of multiple victims between 2019 and 2022.
Phelps, who used dating apps to lure men, is linked to three deaths—one of which she has been charged for. She targeted men in their 60s and 70s but also scammed younger victims, including women, officials said.
A Romance Scam That Turned Deadly
“This is a romance scam on steroids,” said Spencer Evans, an FBI special agent in Las Vegas. He explained that Phelps carefully selected and drugged her victims before stealing from them.
According to the FBI, once her victims were unconscious, she stole their cars, drained their bank accounts, and used their credit cards to buy expensive items like jewelry and gold. She even attempted to access Social Security and retirement benefits.
Authorities believe Phelps used multiple fake names, including “Flores,” “Velasco,” and “Alvarez,” to carry out her schemes.
A Victim Survived After Falling into a Coma
One of her victims survived after being given prescription sedatives for a week. He woke up from a coma, which helped investigators piece together Phelps’ pattern of crimes.
On dating apps, she used the name “Sisy” and posted a profile saying, “I am looking for friends. No fake people, no gente falsa.”
At some point, Phelps escaped to Mexico, but authorities tracked her down. Mexican police arrested her, and she is now awaiting extradition to the United States.
Facing Serious Charges
Phelps has been charged with 21 counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami.
While authorities have already identified several victims, they believe there are many more. The FBI has posted her photos online and is asking any additional victims to come forward.
This case highlights the dangers of online scams and how criminals can take advantage of vulnerable individuals. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of Phelps’ crimes.
