Internet fraud

Fake “Air Force soldier” scammed out of money

The fraudster pretended to be a soldier on a peacekeeping mission.

(Bild: Annette Riedl / dpa / picturedesk.com)

Through emotional manipulation, a fake "Air Force soldier on a peacekeeping mission" gained the trust of a 65-year-old woman. She transferred a large sum of money. The police warn against internet scammers.  

What began as a harmless adventure - the creation of a social media account - quickly took a dramatic turn. Shortly after registering, the woman (65) from the Wolfsberg district received a friend request from an unknown man claiming to be an Austrian Air Force soldier on a peacekeeping mission. The supposed soldier showed great interest in her life and probably captivated the woman with his stories. A personal meeting was also on the cards. 

Large sum transferred
The "friendship" deepened and she was promised the delivery of an alleged parcel containing documents and cash. Immediately afterwards, a supposed forwarding agent contacted her and demanded a high fee for the delivery of the parcel. The gullible woman transferred a considerable sum to a foreign bank account - a step that further strengthened her trust in the fake soldier and the "forwarding agent".

The fraudster repeatedly demanded further payments and the woman became increasingly suspicious. She finally reported the incident to the Carinthian police, who immediately began an investigation. The officers urgently warned against such scams and advised people to always be careful with unknown contacts on the Internet.