Austrian police seek self-styled shaman for allegedly defrauding millions from her victims

Austrian police have issued a continent-wide arrest warrant for a woman they say pretended to be a shaman to defraud people in multiple European countries of their money and possessions.

Police say they discovered cash, jewellery and gold worth over €10 million at the women’s house in the Lower Austrian town of Mödling.

They named the suspect as 44-year-old Austrian citizen of Serbian origin, Mariana M, who went by her shaman name Amela.

Police believe Mariana M may have defrauded people in Germany, Switzerland and Austria after finding different currencies in her stash.

They described one incident in which Mariana M told a victim a close relative was cursed and that she foresaw her imminent death. Mariana M then allegedly demanded €730,000 for “cleansing rituals”.

Mariana M broke off contact after the victim gave her the money in several instalments. The victim was then informed by another person that Mariana M had fallen into a coma as a result of the ritual.

Director of Police in Lower Austria Franz Pop said that such fraudsters profit from people “looking for answers to the essential questions of life.”

“But behind the esoteric facades there are often tough business interests. They exploit the trust of their victims who are in emotional or financial distress,” Pop said.

The woman’s 29-year-old son has been arrested and is currently in custody. The authorities have asked other potential victims in Austria and abroad to contact Austrian police.