Love scam and phishing fraud leave two Salzburg victims thousands of euros poorer
Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
News
Official statement
Under investigation
- A 64-year-old woman in Salzburg lost about €100,000 over two years to an online love scam involving a man who claimed to be a Syrian major.
- A 47-year-old man separately authorized bank transfers totaling €35,000 in a phishing fraud case.
- Police said victims often find it very difficult to recover their money.
A Salzburg woman spent two years sending gift cards to a man she believed was a Syrian major. Police say the online relationship cost the 64-year-old about €100,000.
The woman met the alleged scammer on the internet in 2024. She continued the contact and repeatedly sent him gift cards after he invented stories to persuade her to provide more money.
She eventually reported the case to police at the end of August. The case was presented alongside a separate phishing fraud in which a 47-year-old man approved transfers worth €35,000.
The losses highlight how difficult it can be for victims of online fraud to recover their money, police said.
About this summary
Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
