Austrian authorities are actively searching for a woman believed to be a “shaman fraudster,” who is suspected of swindling people out of large amounts of money. The police have obtained a European arrest warrant for the woman, identified only as "Mariana M," who allegedly posed as a spiritual guide to exploit vulnerable individuals.
Authorities discovered cash, jewelry, and gold worth more than €10 million (approximately £8.3 million) in her home located in Mödling, near Vienna. Mariana M reportedly approached victims claiming that a close relative was cursed, predicting dire consequences unless they paid large sums of money for "cleansing rituals." One victim was swindled out of €730,000 before contact was cut off.
Her 29-year-old son has already been arrested and is currently in custody in Wiener Neustadt. Police believe that Mariana M may have targeted individuals not only in Austria but also in Germany and Switzerland. Franz Popp, Director of Police in Lower Austria, emphasized the danger of such fraudsters preying on people seeking answers during difficult times.
The police encourage anyone who may have been victimized by this scam to reach out to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation for assistance.
