After a five-month criminal investigation, Halton Region police arrested a woman claiming to be a psychic for extortion, fraud and witchcraft.

The woman, 32, of Milton, was operating a provincially-registered business located on Ontario St. South. Police say a victim came forward and said they had consulted with her and had been defrauded by more than $60,000.

“What we typically see is a tendency for perpetrators to take advantage of persons when they are in their most vulnerable state,” Det.-Sgt. Dave Constantini said in a news release. “Victims are manipulated into believing something bad will happen to them unless they remit cash.

“When victims cannot be squeezed any longer, the perpetrators rely on the victim's embarrassment in not contacting police,” Constantini added.

Dorie (Madeena) Stevenson was arrested Thursday. A search warrant was then executed and police recovered evidence from the property.