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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 31, 2018

OCDA SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF “FAITH HEALING” FRAUD RING TARGETING HISPANIC COMMUNITIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office Bureau of Investigation is investigating an organization that is committing theft by utilizing “Faith Healing” to fraudulently con victims out of their savings. The organization, primarily based out of Los Angeles, is known as Terapias Alternativas Aaron, Inc. and Terapias Alternativas Angel, Inc. This “Faith Healing” organization is specifically targeting the Hispanic communities in multiple counties via ads and infomercials aired on Hispanic television stations and newspapers. At least two victims from Orange County have made reports of this fraud.

“This is unconscionable fraud that targets the desperate and the sick. The victims should report this without feeling embarrassed,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FRAUD

The victims reported they:

  • Suffered from different medical conditions which cause joint or other types of pain
  • Observed infomercials on Hispanic TV station KWHY-TV (22) where a person named Aaron claims to be a clairvoyant and health care provider in Los Angeles, who had the ability to cure diseases
  • Called the phone number for the organization and were told to go to a location on Pomona Blvd. in East Los Angeles or to a location on Whittier Blvd. in Montebello
  • Met with a Hispanic female who had them pay $50 cash for an initial consultation
  • Were taken to another room where they met with a Hispanic male who told the victims he could heal them for a fee of thousands of dollars, paid in cash
  • Were not given receipts for any cash paid
  • Paid additional cash that was demanded by these individuals in subsequent visits
  • Were told by a male subject that if the money was not paid:
    • They could not help the victims
    • The victim and their family would fall prey to “evil spirits”
    • The victim’s children would be taken over by the spirits and killed
  • Provided information regarding the their financial status to a male subject who would continue to demand tens of thousands of dollars and drain the victims of their savings
  • Were cut off from the “healing” consultation by the “clairvoyants” without being healed or cured

Observed multiple people sitting in the office when they went in for their consultations

The OCDA is conducting a criminal investigation into this organization and is seeking other Orange County victims. If you believe you have been victimized by this organization, please call Supervising Investigator Rick Bradley (714) 648-3667 of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Consumer Fraud Unit.

OCDA created videos to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community in Orange County. To watch and share the videos on social media and assist in our efforts to seek additional victims, please click the links below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 31, 2018

LA FISCALÍA DEL CONDADO DE ORANGE BUSCA MAS VICTIMAS EN UNA CADENA DE FRAUDE LLAMADA “FAITH HEALING” QUE SE ENFOCA EN LA COMUNIDAD HISPANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – La oficina de la Fiscalía del Condado de Orange (OCDA) y su unidad de investigaciones está investigando una organización que está estafando a la comunidad al usar “Faith Healing” (Sanamiento con Fe) así robándoles sus cuentas de ahorro. La organización que esta mayormente en el área de Los Angeles usa los nombres de Terapias Alternativas Aaron, Inc. y Terapias Alternativas Ángel, Inc. Esta “Faith Healing” organización ataca a la comunidad Hispana en varios condados atraves de comerciales y segmentos comerciales que sales atraves de la televisión y periódicos. Dos víctimas en el Condado de Orange han reportado este tipo de fraude.

“Este fraude es incuestionable y ataca a los más desesperados y enfermos. Las victimas deberían reportar estos incidentes sin pena,” dijo el Fiscal Tony Rackauckas.

Circunstancias del Fraude

Las victimas reportaron:

  • Sufrían de diferente condiciones médicas que podrían causar dolores en las articulaciones y otros tipos de dolores
  • Vieron segmentos comerciales en el Canal Hispano de Televisión KWHY-TV (22). En el comercial, una persona llamada Aaron dice ser vidente y un proveedor de salud en Los Angeles que tiene la habilidad de curar enfermedades
  • Llamaron al número de teléfono de la organización y se les dijo que fueran a un lugar en la Cuidad de Pomona en el este de Los Angeles o a un lugar ubicado sobre la calle Whittier Blvd. en la Cuidad de Montebello
  • Se encontraron con una mujer Hispana que les hizo pagar $50 en efectivo por una consulta inicial.
  • Se les llevo a otro cuarto y se encontraron con un hombre Hispano que les dijo que el los podía curar por miles de dólares en efectivo
  • No se les dio recibo por el dinero en efectivo pagado
  • Pagaron más dinero en efectivo en otras citas por las mismas personas
  • A las víctimas se les dijo que si no pagaban el dinero no se les podría ayudar y que las víctimas y sus familiares serian victimas de “espiritus malignos” y que los hijos serian dominados por los espiritus y matados
  • El hombre obtenía información sobre el estado financiero de las víctimas y continuaba pidiéndoles diez de miles de dólares y vacío las cuentas de ahorros de las víctimas.
  • Los “Clarividentes” entonces paraban las consultas “sanadoras”. No hubo sanación ni cura obtenida. Las dos víctimas reportaron que hubo mucha gente esperando consulta en las oficinas.

La Fiscalía del Condado de Orange está manejando una investigación criminal y busca más víctimas en el Condado de Orange. Si Usted cree haber sido víctima de esta Organización por favor marque al Supervisor de Investigaciones de fraude al consumidor Rick Bradley al 714-648-3667.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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