German National Extradited to Newark to Face Charges in $10M Psychic Mail Fraud Targeting Elderly

After years as a fugitive, Georg Ingenbleek stands accused of orchestrating a mass mailing scam from overseas, deceiving vulnerable U.S. victims with fraudulent psychic solicitations.

NEWARK, N.J. — A long-time international fugitive has been extradited from Italy to the United States to face federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent mass mailing scheme that collected more than $10 million from elderly and vulnerable victims, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

Georg Ingenbleek, 58, a German citizen, was indicted in 2020 but remained a fugitive until his apprehension in Bolzano, Italy, in 2024. He was extradited to the U.S. and arrived via Newark Liberty International Airport, where he made his initial court appearance on May 9, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of mail fraud and was remanded without bail.

According to court documents and prosecutors, from 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek operated a fraudulent direct mail campaign that sent deceptive letters—purportedly from “world-renowned psychics”—to thousands of U.S. residents. These letters falsely claimed that the recipients had been identified through psychic visions and were destined to receive large financial rewards or good fortune.

Though the solicitations often claimed the services were offered free of charge, recipients were later sent fraudulent billing statements demanding payment, typically ranging from $20 to $50. Ingenbleek is accused of directing two U.S.-based companies, one located in Piscataway, New Jersey, to print, mail, and manage billing for the scam. These firms—referred to in court as Company-1 and Company-2—allegedly helped disseminate the false psychic letters and followed up with aggressive “collection notices” falsely warning of legal consequences for nonpayment.

Prosecutors say the scam defrauded victims of more than $10 million, largely by exploiting their vulnerability and trust.

In September 2016, as federal authorities began investigating the scheme, Ingenbleek allegedly directed his associates to destroy evidence. In one cited email, he urged a Company-2 representative to “start today, work all weekend” to dispose of materials related to the operation.

Each count of mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the financial gain or loss associated with the crime.

The extradition and investigation were made possible through a coordinated international effort involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation Newark, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York and Rome, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fayer and Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The indictment contains allegations, and Ingenbleek is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.