Austrian Authorities Pursue Elusive Fraudster Posing as Shaman
In a daring pursuit, Austrian authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for an elusive woman suspected of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme under the guise of a shaman to swindle unsuspecting victims out of exorbitant sums of money.
The alleged perpetrator, identified as Mariana M, a 44-year-old Austrian citizen who operated under the alias Amela, has triggered a wave of alarm with her deceptive practices. The police raid on her residence in Mödling, located in close proximity to Vienna, yielded a staggering cache of cash, jewelry, and gold valued at over 10 million euros (£8.3 million), underscoring the extent of her fraudulent activities.
The apprehension of Mariana M’s 29-year-old son, currently detained in Wiener Neustadt, marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the fraudulent network orchestrated by the accused. Authorities suspect that Mariana M may have duped individuals not only in Austria but also in neighboring countries such as Germany and Switzerland, amplifying the scope of her illicit operations.
Despicable tactics employed by Mariana M to manipulate her victims included fabricating elaborate stories of curses afflicting their loved ones and foretelling impending doom, thereby preying on their vulnerabilities and emotions. One victim was coerced into paying a staggering sum of 730,000 euros for purported “cleansing rituals” to dispel the alleged curse, only to be abandoned by the perpetrator once the money changed hands in multiple installments. The victim was later informed by an accomplice posing as a concerned individual that the sham shaman had lapsed into a coma as a consequence of the ritual, perpetuating the deceitful narrative spun by Mariana M.
Franz Popp, the Director of Police in Lower Austria, condemned the exploitation of individuals grappling with existential questions by nefarious actors masquerading as possessors of supernatural abilities. He highlighted the insidious nature of such schemes, emphasizing how perpetrators leverage the vulnerability and desperation of their victims in distress to perpetrate their malicious agenda.
“In a world where uncertainty and seeking answers to life’s profound queries prevail, unscrupulous profiteers have seized upon the opportunity to dupe unsuspecting individuals by peddling false promises of supernatural intervention,” remarked Popp, shedding light on the pervasive threat posed by individuals capitalizing on the credulity of those in dire need of solace and guidance.
In light of these distressing revelations, authorities have urged any additional victims ensnared by Mariana M’s fraudulent machinations to come forward and collaborate with the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation, underscoring the importance of collective vigilance and cooperation in combating such predatory practices.
The pursuit of justice in the face of such egregious misconduct serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to safeguard vulnerable individuals from falling prey to the machinations of deceitful individuals who exploit their trust for personal gain. As investigations unfold and the web of
