Austrian Police Hunt for Alleged 'Shaman Scammer' Amid €10 Million Fraud

Austrian authorities have launched a search for a woman they believe is a shaman fraudster, with significant evidence of her alleged crimes discovered at her residence, including cash and valuables exceeding €10 million.

In a startling turn of events, Austrian police have issued an arrest warrant for a 44-year-old woman, identified only as "Mariana M," in connection with a multi-million euro fraud scheme. Authorities suspect that Mariana masqueraded as a shaman to exploit vulnerable individuals, deceiving them out of large sums of money under the pretense of performing cleansing rituals.

Investigators found a staggering collection of assets, including cash, jewelry, and gold valued at over 10 million euros (£8.3 million), at her home in Mödling, a town located near Vienna. In addition to Mariana, her 29-year-old son has been taken into custody in Wiener Neustadt as part of the investigation.

Reports suggest that Mariana M may have perpetrated fraud across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In one alarming case, she allegedly told a victim that a close relative was cursed and that they would soon die unless a payment of 730,000 euros was made for "cleansing rituals." Once the victim paid the amount through various installments, Mariana ceased all communication. Shortly thereafter, another woman claimed over the phone that the supposed shaman had suffered a severe coma due to the ritual's repercussions.

Franz Popp, Director of Police for Lower Austria, remarked, "In a world in which many people are searching for answers to life's essential questions, opportunists are exploiting those in emotional or financial distress by pretending to possess supernatural powers."

Authorities are now calling on any potential victims of Mariana’s fraudulent schemes to come forward and report their experiences to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation.