Austrian police have issued an arrest warrant for a woman who posed as a shaman and deceived people into handing over large amounts of money. According to BBC, cash, jewelry, and gold worth over 10 million euros were found in the suspect’s house, located near Vienna.
The woman, 44-year-old Mariana M., also known by the pseudonym Amela, is suspected of fraud. Her 29-year-old son has been arrested and is in custody in Wiener Neustadt. Police believe Mariana M. may have scammed people in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
One of the victims, according to police, sought help from the “shaman,” who claimed that her close relative was cursed and that she predicted her death. To remove the supposed curse, the suspect demanded 730,000 euros for “purification rituals.” After the victim transferred the money, communication was cut off. Later, another woman called the victim to say that the “shaman” had fallen into a coma due to the ritual.
Franz Popp, head of the Lower Austrian police, stated that such fraudsters exploit the trust of people facing emotional or financial difficulties, promising them help with life’s most important problems. It was also reported that a Hungarian couple who attempted to rob an Austrian tobacco shop based on advice from a fortune-teller was sentenced to real prison time.
