Amidst a search for justice, police urge other potential victims to step forward.
**Austrian Authorities Hunt for Suspected 'Shaman' Swindler**
**Austrian Authorities Hunt for Suspected 'Shaman' Swindler**
Police issued an arrest warrant for a woman accused of defrauding victims by posing as a shaman.
Police in Austria are actively seeking a woman accused of deceiving victims by assuming the role of a shaman, allegedly defrauding them out of significant sums. Identified only as a 44-year-old Austrian citizen using the name Mariana M, authorities issued a European arrest warrant following the discovery of cash, jewelry, and gold valued at over €10 million (approximately £8.3 million) at her residence in Mödling, close to Vienna.
According to law enforcement, Mariana M, who also went by Amela, is believed to have preyed on individuals across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Reports indicate that one victim was misled into believing a curse had been placed on a close relative, which Mariana M claimed would lead to their death. To lift this supposed curse, she demanded an astonishing €730,000 for "cleansing rituals." Once the victim fulfilled this demand through several payments, Mariana M ceased communication altogether.
In an alarming twist, another woman later notified the victim via phone that the suspect had allegedly fallen into a serious coma as a result of the ritual. The Director of Police in Lower Austria, Franz Popp, voiced concern over the vulnerability of individuals seeking answers in challenging times. "Profiteers have established themselves who claim to possess supernatural powers," he stated, emphasizing the exploitation of those in emotional or financial distress.
Local authorities have called on anyone who may have fallen victim to similar scams to reach out to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation, as they continue their search for justice in this troubling case.
According to law enforcement, Mariana M, who also went by Amela, is believed to have preyed on individuals across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Reports indicate that one victim was misled into believing a curse had been placed on a close relative, which Mariana M claimed would lead to their death. To lift this supposed curse, she demanded an astonishing €730,000 for "cleansing rituals." Once the victim fulfilled this demand through several payments, Mariana M ceased communication altogether.
In an alarming twist, another woman later notified the victim via phone that the suspect had allegedly fallen into a serious coma as a result of the ritual. The Director of Police in Lower Austria, Franz Popp, voiced concern over the vulnerability of individuals seeking answers in challenging times. "Profiteers have established themselves who claim to possess supernatural powers," he stated, emphasizing the exploitation of those in emotional or financial distress.
Local authorities have called on anyone who may have fallen victim to similar scams to reach out to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation, as they continue their search for justice in this troubling case.
