A 67-year-old Venezuelan woman, Carmen Valdez De Miguel, was arrested in Doral, Florida, after allegedly scamming a man out of $3,000 through a fake spiritual cleansing ritual involving money, eggs, and esoteric practices.
How the Scam Unfolded
The victim came across a tarot reading flyer on his car on March 11 and called the number listed. A woman who identified herself as “María Rodríguez” offered a $20 session at an apartment on Northwest 36th Street.
During the session, Valdez De Miguel convinced the victim that he needed a deeper spiritual cleansing costing $600 to $700. The victim paid a $200 deposit via Zelle and returned on March 19 with $3,000 in cash, believing the money would be ritualized and doubled.
During the so-called cleansing, she placed the money in a bag with eggs. However, when the bag broke, the victim found only broken eggs and worms, with no trace of the cash. Valdez De Miguel told him that due to his “mental state,” she could not return the money, and he needed to wait for the candles to burn out. After failing to reach her, the victim reported the scam to police.
Arrest and Charges
On March 31, Doral police arrested Valdez De Miguel at her apartment. She initially gave a false name, resisted arrest, and was taken to Baptist Hospital claiming to have a fever before being booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGKCC).
She faces multiple charges, including:
Organized fraud
Grand theft (third degree)
Resisting an officer without violence
She also has outstanding warrants for petty theft, and a no-bond immigration hold, preventing her release.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
During a court hearing, Judge Mindy Glazer set a $5,500 bond for the fraud case and $4,500 in additional warrants. However, due to her immigration hold, she remains in custody without bond.
Doral Police Chief Edwin López described Valdez De Miguel as a “professional scam artist” with multiple outstanding warrants and encouraged other victims to come forward. Authorities are also investigating additional suspects and expect more arrests.
The court has ordered Valdez De Miguel to stay away from the victim. Anyone who believes they were scammed by her is urged to report it to the police.
