The shaman swindler stole tens of millions of dollars from victims: how the scheme worked.

According to ТСН: In Austria, law enforcement is searching for a 44-year-old woman who disguised herself as a shaman and, according to investigators, deceived dozens of people out of more than 11 million dollars.

Together with her 19-year-old daughter, they assured their victims that their jewelry was cursed and required special cleansing rituals.

Fraud Scheme

Mariana Mihailovich operated in Vienna and Munich, where she and her daughter Anna sought out wealthy women on the streets. They assured potential victims that they could free their valuables from 'evil spirits' through shamanic rituals — of course, for a substantial fee.

According to the prosecution, the women intimidated the victims with horrific 'visions,' telling them about supposedly inevitable serious illnesses or accidents that could happen to their loved ones. The worst part was that, according to them, the only way to avoid tragedies was to perform an exorcism on the jewelry.

Consequences of the Fraud

Having received money and valuables, Mihailovich and her daughter ceased all communication with their victims. The investigation established that over the past ten years, they deceived at least 19 individuals in Germany and Austria.

One woman handed over more than 673 thousand dollars to Mihailovich, believing that she was supposedly possessed by demons. Another victim paid over 65 thousand dollars, hoping to be cured of cancer, but unfortunately, she died from the disease.

Investigations and Arrests

Having gathered enough evidence, Austrian police conducted a search at the Mihailovich family's home in Vienna. Law enforcement detained Anna, Mariana's daughter, her husband, and her 29-year-old son. The woman herself, who is considered the main suspect, is currently being sought.

During the searches, police found 25 kilograms of gold bars, jewelry, luxury watches, cash in Swiss francs and US dollars, as well as 14 cars. The investigation could not prove that all the seized property was obtained illegally, and the court ordered the suspects to pay just over 2 million dollars. The defense claimed that this money supposedly came from gifts, inheritance, and real estate deals.

This story serves as a disturbing reminder of frauds that exploit people's vulnerabilities in difficult times. It demonstrates the unique methods that criminals use to deceive trusting victims, and the importance of caution when interacting with unknown individuals. Whether the legal system can protect the victims and punish the guilty remains to be seen.