Two accomplices are on the run. The investigators secured more than 200,000 euros of counterfeit money. In the summer of 2021, a craft business in Lower Austria informed the investigators of the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, Center/East branch, Rip-Deal Unit Vienna of a case of fraud.
The company was contacted by “Israeli-Swiss businessmen” in connection with a hotel project in Belgrade. The company was supposed to build 100 bathrooms, which would have had a volume of 1.2 million euros, the agents wanted to collect a commission of 200,000 euros for it. At a first meeting in Belgrade, the details were discussed, a contract was drawn up, and in June 2021, company representatives traveled to the Serbian capital again to wrap up the order. The perpetrators distracted her, stole the 200,000 euro commission and fled. The fraudsters acted very professionally throughout the entire campaign, and the victims were shown fake websites and fake passports, among other things.
Victims also in Upper Austria
In the course of the investigation, the Rip Deal Unit investigated two suspects and also discovered two other victims in Upper Austria and Burgenland. These two had offered luxury watches and gold coins online in 2016 and 2017. They were then contacted by the group and lured to Italy – Verona and Rome. There, the perpetrators bought the valuables with counterfeit money.
The Rip Deal Unit subsequently cooperated with the Federal Criminal Police Office, police departments in Austria – in particular with the Mattighofen Police Inspectorate (Braunau district) – Europol and the Italian police. A 28-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested in Rome on Saturday a week ago. He is said to have caused total damage of more than 300,000 euros and passed it on in the three known cases. The flowers were secured. At least two other suspects are being sought. The 28-year-old is in extradition custody, said police spokesman Daniel Fürst on Sunday.
The police gave some prevention tips:
- If you are suspicious, contact the nearest police station or refrain from the deal
- Do not travel abroad to sell your own belongings, especially luxury ones
- Be wary and suspicious if the potential buyer doesn’t show any signs of negotiating the purchase price
- Conduct research about your business partners
- In any case, file a complaint after a rip deal (at home and abroad)
Source: Nachrichten
