Police in Austria are actively searching for a woman suspected of posing as a shaman to defraud individuals out of considerable sums of money. The woman, an Austrian identified only as Mariana M, has a European arrest warrant issued against her while authorities also investigate her links to victims in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
The investigation revealed shocking findings at Mariana M’s residence in Mödling, a town situated near Vienna, where police confiscated cash, jewelry, and gold totaling over 10 million euros (£8.3 million). The suspect, who also went by the name Amela, allegedly convinced victims they were facing curses that required costly cleansing rituals. One particular case involved a victim who was misled into paying 730,000 euros for supposed rituals to lift a curse affecting a close relative.
Following the transaction, Mariana M reportedly severed communication with the victim, leading to further distress. In a bizarre twist, another woman reached out to the victim, claiming that the self-proclaimed shaman had fallen into a coma as a result of the rituals.
Franz Popp, Director of Police in Lower Austria, expressed concern regarding scammers who exploit the vulnerable. He stated, "In a world where many seek answers to life's essential questions, profiteers who claim to possess supernatural powers take advantage of those in emotional or financial distress."
Authorities have urged anyone else who may have fallen victim to this scam to come forward and contact the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation as their search for Mariana M continues across multiple jurisdictions.
