After their report on May 6, three suspects who did not confess are now in custody in Vienna, the Lower Austria State Police Directorate reported on Friday. Since November 2020, the woman had handed over money personally in cash and transferred it to an Austrian account.
The victim had met a man through a dating site who pretended to be a US citizen and was single in Vienna. According to the police, he faked a love affair. In chat messages released by the police, he wrote that he “loves her uncontrollably” and made her believe that he believed in a future together and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
The man also explained that he had to settle an inheritance matter in the USA, for which he would need 40,000 euros. Shortly thereafter, the 46-year-old handed over the money personally in Vienna-Ottakring to a black African stranger. As a result, the victim was asked to make further transfers and also to send “Amazon” and “iTunes” vouchers, which also happened.
26-year-old Linzer arrested
The investigations were carried out by the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria, fraud investigation area. Because the woman was still in contact with the unknown perpetrator via chat and email and a claim for a further 30,000 euros was received as a fee for an upcoming payment of 750,000 euros, a personal handover of the money was agreed. A surveillance in the area of the western train station in Vienna led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Ghanaian citizen living in Linz in the evening hours of June 20. At the same time, according to the police, a search and arrest warrant was issued by the Vienna public prosecutor regarding another accomplice, a 26-year-old Ivorian, in Vienna-Meidling.
Investigations are ongoing
According to the police, the victim had been instructed by the Ghanaian to transfer money to an account owned by the other man. From there, the funds were transferred to unknown perpetrators who have yet to be identified. Finally, a 28-year-old Ghanaian living in Vienna was identified as another accomplice. According to the police, he is strongly suspected of having transferred parts of the loot to backers as a member of the group and as a money launderer. The accused is also in custody. Among other things, a four-digit amount of cash was secured from him. The investigations of the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria are ongoing.
Source: Nachrichten
