In a shocking turn of events, the Lower Austrian police have issued a European arrest warrant for a woman believed to have masqueraded as a shaman to defraud victims across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The 44-year-old suspect, identified only as "Mariana M" and known locally as Amela, reportedly conned individuals into handing over vast sums of money under the pretenses of performing cleansing rituals.
Authorities have discovered substantial evidence of her fraudulent activities, retrieving cash, jewelry, and gold worth more than 10 million euros (approximately £8.3 million) from her residence in Mödling, near Vienna. Mariana M’s alleged dishonest campaign came to a head when one victim claimed she demanded 730,000 euros for supposed cleansing rituals to alleviate a curse threatening their family member’s life.
Authorities have stated that after receiving the money in several installments, Mariana M severed all communication with her victim. Furthermore, in a twist of deceit, another alleged accomplice contacted the victim, falsely claiming that the "shaman" had fallen into a severe coma due to a failed ritual.
Franz Popp, the Director of the Lower Austrian Police, expressed concern about the exploitation of emotional vulnerability by individuals claiming supernatural abilities. He emphasized the need for caution, stating, “In a world in which many people are looking for answers to the essential questions of life, profiteers have established themselves who exploit the trust of their victims.”
The police have launched an appeal for anyone else affected by her false practices to come forward and report their experiences to the Lower Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation.
