Hingham Police Searching For Second Suspect in Psychic Scam

are seeking another woman involved in a recent psychic scam.

Hingham Police Sgt. Steven Dearth said police are looking for Teresa Nicholas, age 43 of Albany, NY who they believe is connected with the earlier this month at a psychic reading business on Whiting Street.

“We have been unable to locate her and are actively searching for her,” Dearth said.

Dearth said Nicholas was spotted cashing the victim’s checks on surveillance cameras.  Dearth said she has an address in Albany, NY but frequently visits the Hingham business.

Hingham police have obtained arrest warrants for Nicholas for two outstanding charges: larceny over $250 and conspiracy.

Police believe Nicholas was an accomplice of the Hingham woman arrested Saturday at her Whiting Street home and business for allegedly scamming a 69-year-old Pembroke woman out of more than $7,000 during a psychic reading.

Smith, age 24, of 49 Whiting Street  was arraigned at Hingham District Court on Tuesday.  She was released on $1,500 and will be back in court on April 30.

Police say Smith, who goes by the psychic name, “Sofie” told the woman there was a curse on her daughter and if she didn’t  pay her $16,000, Smith claimed  the daughter would commit suicide. According to a police report, while giving the psychic reading, Smith dropped a bag and red liquid spilled out and said it represented her daughter’s blood.  While pleading the Pembroke woman to pay her, Smith said, “Isn’t your daughter worth more than $16,000?,” the police report said.

According to the report, the victim was  under a great deal of stress and was concerned about her daughter.

Police say the Pembroke woman was scammed into giving Smith an antique opal ring worth $500 and two checks totaling $7,385. Police say Smith told the woman to sell personal items, borrow the money from relatives, or bring a credit card to come up with the additional $9,000. The victim told her family about the incident last week, and the family immediately contacted Hingham police.

When police arrived at Smith’s home over the weekend, she denied knowing the Pembroke woman.  She also said she lived in Dorchester and the Whiting Street location was just her business. Police did notice two other people with Smith who were dressed in pajamas at the Whiting Street location.

When police asked to speak with Nicholas,  Smith said she would return in an hour but she could not be contacted because she does not have a cell phone.

Smith is facing charges of larceny over $250 (two counts), larceny over $250 by false pretenses, larceny from a person over 65, and conspiracy.

Since the charges, her business on Whiting Street has remained closed. The business is located next to the and across from

Smith has not returned phone messages left by Patch. 

Police are asking anyone with information about similar cases involving the business or Smith to contact Detective Robert Mansfield at 781-749-1212 or leave information at the Drop-A-Dime link on their website (www.hpd.org).