New Delhi, July 22 -- A 33-year-old Indian-origin astrologer has been arrested in Hicksville, New York, in connection with an alleged fortune-telling scam that authorities say defrauded a senior citizen out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Hemanth Kumar Muneppa, from Queens, was taken into custody at a bank after staff became suspicious of a potential scam involving a 68-year-old woman who believed she was being haunted by "evil spirits."

According to prosecutors, the woman had already paid Muneppa $20,000 (approximately Rs.16.7 lakh) for psychic services and was preparing to withdraw an additional $42,000 (approximately Rs.35 lakh) when bank employees intervened and notified police.

Authorities allege that Muneppa operated under the g...