Cook Country Record 02-18-2014

Woman Claiming To Be Psychic Sued For Fraud

February 18, 2014
By Annie Crosby

A woman is suing over claims she was defrauded out of tens of thousands of dollars, as well as possession of her Porsche, by a person purporting to be psychic.

Vivian Bikel filed a lawsuit Feb. 10 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Theresa Miller, also known as Theresa Stevens or Angela Miller, Samuel Stevens and Nicholas Stevens, citing fraud and civil conspiracy.

According to the complaint, for the last decade, Theresa Miller has purported to be a psychic with the ability to prevent tragic events in Bikel’s life if she was paid large sums of money.

Bikel claims Theresa Miller preyed on details of emotionally difficult periods in her life at a particularly vulnerable time with the help of Samuel and Nicholas Stevens, defrauding her out of tens of thousands of dollars in the process.

Additionally, Bikel alleges that Miller demanded the possession of her Porsche vehicle for “meditative purposes” in order to prevent harm from reaching her family. Bikel asserts she demanded the return of the vehicle on Dec. 28, but the defendants have failed to do so.

Bikel is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and the return of the vehicle. She is being represented in the case by attorneys Thomas A. Zimmerman Jr., Adam M. Tamburelli and Frank J. Stretz of Zimmerman Law Offices P.C.