Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators say Adva Lavie targets older men on dating apps for the purpose of burglarizing their homes.
The sheriff’s department says the alleged romance scammer – a former Penthouse Pet – goes by the names of Mia Ventura, Shoshana or Shana.
Investigators are looking for additional victims who may have been duped.
Michael Sartain, host of the podcast “Access Vegas,” has seen firsthand how Lavie allegedly works. He knew her as Mia when she appeared on an election night episode of his podcast.
During the recording of the episode, Sartain said Lavie disappeared for several minutes.
Sartain says in that time, Lavie went into the green room and stole cash and credit cards out of the purses of the other guests.
“She basically sits there for 90 minutes having stolen everyone’s credits cars and everyone’s cash out of their purses in the green room, just the female guests,” Sartain said. “…And she just sat there cool as a cucumber just talking about the election while she had everyone’s stuff in her purse just sitting right behind her.”
Lavie allegedly targets older men while posing as a girlfriend or companion on social media dating platforms and apps, sheriff’s officials said in a news release Wednesday. She is known to drive a black Porsche SUV and white Mercedes-Benz sedan.
Anyone with information on Lavie is asked to contact the Lost Hills sheriff’s station or the Los Angeles Police Department.