GOLDEN, Colo. -- A Jefferson County woman was charged Friday with faking cancer to allegedly scam an elderly man out of thousands of dollars.
Nahid Moshrefi, 49, of Monument, is accused of stealing more than $34,000 from a 79-year-old man she met through an online dating site, where she went by the name of “Venus.”
The couple began dating for several months in 2013 when she told the victim she had cancer and only five to six months to live, according to an arrest affidavit.
The victim's bank got suspicious and bank officials called police after the elderly man wrote checks to Moshrefi and transferred money to her account.
The suspect’s cousin also contacted police about the alleged scam.
The victim told police the money was for Moshrefi’s cancer treatments. He said the suspect displayed pain during their dates.
Moshrefi is also accused of convincing the elderly man to buy her a car, give her all his cash savings and pay for trips to California and Australia. Authorities said she also had herself installed as sole beneficiary in his will.
Moshrefi owns Holistic Healing Health in Colorado Springs. She advertises herself as Dr. Venus K. Moshrefi. Investigators have been unable to confirm whether she is a medical doctor.
Investigators said Moshrefi convinced the victim to stop taking his prescription medication and take supplements instead, which altered his moods and increased his depression.
Authorities charged Moshrefi with theft of an at-risk elder and criminal exploitation of an at-risk elder. She was arrested in El Paso County and posted $25,000 bond. She is due in court on Oct. 4.
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