The fugitive 44-year-old is accused by Lower Austrian criminal investigators of having swindled a double-digit million amount. Cash, gold, jewelry, and high-priced wristwatches were found and secured in a safe. The 29-year-old son of the self-proclaimed shaman is in pre-trial detention.
Occult Fraud in the Millions: First Victims of Shaman "Amela" Come Forward
11-02-2025, 11:30
In the case of the alleged occult fraudster Mariana M. alias "Amela", "numerous calls" have been received by the police by Tuesday.
Victims Also Suspected in Germany and Switzerland
Victims are suspected not only in this country. There are likely also victims of "Amela" in Germany and Switzerland. Calls have been received "from home and abroad," Chief Inspector Johann Baumschlager of the Lower Austria State Police Directorate said on Tuesday upon request. The case is also making waves in neighboring countries. Numerous media outlets in Germany and Switzerland have reported on it.
Photos of Jewelry and Valuables on Search Page
Photos of jewelry and valuables are visible . A first additional victim, besides the woman who lost 730,000 euros to the 44-year-old, which set the case in motion, came forward as early as Monday.
The son of "Amela" is also under investigation. The 29-year-old was arrested last Monday on suspicion of being an accessory to serious fraud and money laundering and was taken to the Wiener Neustadt prison, said Stefan Pfandler, head of the Lower Austria State Criminal Office (LKA). The man exercised his right to refuse to testify. According to the LKA chief, he is the owner of the house in Maria Enzersdorf (Mödling district), where the million-dollar safe was discovered.
Information on Fugitive Shaman "Amela" Requested
The safe was reportedly located in a secret room, with access only possible through a special mechanism. The safe had to be opened by police specialists. According to Pfandler, it contained, among other things, 4.1 million euros and 2.1 million Swiss francs (2.23 million euros) in cash.
The search for Mariana M. continues. Investigators believe that the woman has been active throughout the German-speaking region for several years, possibly with accomplices. Victims of the alleged fraudster at home and abroad are asked to contact the investigators of the Lower Austria State Criminal Office at Tel.: +43 59133 303333. Information on the whereabouts of the fugitive "Amela" is also requested.
(APA/Red)
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