Austrian Police Hunt for 'Shaman Fraudster' After Multi-Million Euro Scam

Austrian police have launched a manhunt for a woman, identified only as Mariana M, who allegedly posed as a shaman to defraud multiple victims across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Authorities have seized belongings worth over 10 million euros from her residence, revealing the scale of the deception.

Austrian law enforcement is currently in pursuit of a 44-year-old woman, known only by the pseudonym Mariana M, involved in a troubling case of fraud. With a European arrest warrant issued, the police suspect Mariana M of impersonating a shaman to extract vast sums of money from unsuspecting victims. Investigations revealed that over 10 million euros (approximately £8.3 million) in cash, jewelry, and gold was seized from her home located in Mödling, near Vienna.

The mother, referred to as Mariana M, allegedly operated under the guise of a shaman named Amela, targeting individuals seeking assistance with supposed spiritual curses. In a shocking account, one victim was reportedly told that a loved one was under a curse, which Mariana claimed could only be lifted through elaborate rituals costing 730,000 euros. After receiving significant sums in installments, the suspect vanished, leaving the victim in despair.

In a further twist, another woman reached out to inform the initial victim that the "shaman" had suffered a severe coma following the unconventional ritual, raising questions about the validity of the claims made by Mariana M. The Director of Police for Lower Austria, Franz Popp, highlighted the manipulative tactics employed by individuals who exploit vulnerable people searching for existential answers and remedies.

Authorities are calling on anyone who may have encountered similar circumstances or fallen victim to Mariana M to reach out to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation as they seek to prevent further exploitation amidst these troubling incidents.