Austrian police are on the trail of a woman known as Mariana M, a 44-year-old national accused of masquerading as a shaman in a wide-reaching fraudulent scheme. They have issued a European arrest warrant after uncovering a staggering cache of cash, jewelry, and gold valued at more than €10 million (approximately £8.3 million) in her residence in Mödling, near Vienna.
Mariana M, who also operated under the alias Amela, is suspected of defrauding individuals across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The police's inquiries suggest that her son, aged 29, has been detained in Wiener Neustadt as part of this investigation.
One particularly egregious incident involved a victim to whom Mariana M allegedly claimed that a close relative was cursed and would soon die. She demanded 730,000 euros purportedly for 'cleansing rituals' to dissolve the curse. After receiving multiple payments, she ceased communication, leading to alarm when another individual falsely claimed the 'shaman' was in a grave coma due to her rituals.
Franz Popp, the Director of Police in Lower Austria, commented on the broader issue, highlighting how manipulative individuals exploit vulnerable people seeking answers in difficult times. He urged anyone who may have fallen prey to similar schemes to contact the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation to aid in their ongoing efforts.
