Expand / Collapse search
☰
Freeze Watch
from SUN 12:00 AM MST until SUN 9:00 AM MST, Southeast Gila County
10
Freeze Watch
from SAT 12:00 AM MST until SAT 9:00 AM MST, Southeast Gila County
Freeze Watch
from SAT 1:00 AM MST until SUN 9:00 AM MST, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson
Wind Advisory
from FRI 5:00 AM MST until FRI 5:00 PM MST, Parker Valley
Wind Advisory
from FRI 11:00 AM MST until FRI 6:00 PM MST, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Southeast Gila County, Globe/Miami, San Carlos
Wind Advisory
from FRI 5:00 AM MST until FRI 6:00 PM MST, Eastern Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County
Winter Weather Advisory
from FRI 12:00 PM MDT until SUN 6:00 AM MDT, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau
Winter Weather Advisory
from THU 11:00 PM MST until SAT 11:00 AM MST, Kaibab Plateau
Wind Advisory
from FRI 12:00 AM MST until FRI 11:00 PM MST, Northwest Deserts, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave
Air Quality Alert
until FRI 9:00 PM MST, Pinal County

Limpia scam: Mesa PD warns about conmen pretending to be spiritual guides

By
Updated  May 17, 2023 7:00pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

Mesa Police officials warn of 'Limpia scams'

Police in Mesa say people should be aware of conmen pretending to be spiritual guides offering a cleansing known as a 'limpia,' a ceremony that is well-known to people in the Latine community, but is also seen in other cultures. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.

MESA, Ariz. - Mesa Police officials have a warning about an unusual scam: people pretending to be spiritual guides who are actually rip-off artists.

The scam involves a spiritual cleansing that is called a ‘limpia,' an ancient ceremony that uses tarot cards, herbs and rituals to remove negative energy, on a path toward
enlightenment.

"The cards will determine if you in fact need it," said Thomas Baldonado with Las Potencias Africanas. "It may be your diet. It might be some emotional distress. It might be something traumatic drama that’s causing your energies to be off."

Limpias are best known in the Latine community, but it is also seen in other cultures. Mesa Police officials say people pretending to be ‘medicine men’ are making house calls, free of charge. These people, according to police, gain trust by claiming to be a friend of the family or next door neighbor.

"What’s happening is the second person that’s going in the house is distracting the victim for a split second, and then, they are stealing the money, the valuables and things like that," said Mesa Police detective Richard Encinas.

Baldonado says the danger sign starts with a knock at the door: healers don’t seek-out the sick.

"If you need it, your spirit, God will tell you ‘I need something. Something’s going on, I better go check,'" said Baldonado. "For me to go solicit that, then there’s no spirituality there."

Baldonado has been a spiritual healer for 30 years. He said people looking into a limpia should do their homework.

"It's nothing new," said Baldonado. "It's not the first time, and it won’t be the last, unfortunately."

Mesa Police officials are asking victims not to speak up, due to concerns it might tip off the crooks. However, officials say people who believe they have been scammed should call police right away.