Fake pilot scams Styrian woman out of 77,000 euros

A 50-year-old woman from Upper Styria lost about 77,000 euros to a romance scammer posing as a German-American pilot, ORF reported. She had met the man on social media in the spring and believed he planned to move to Austria to live with her.

In early September, she waited at Vienna Airport to pick him up, but he did not appear. Instead, she received a message claiming he had been arrested and that she needed to pay bail for his release.

The woman then realised she had been defrauded and told an acquaintance, who reported the case to police.

Since March, she had transferred the money for customs payments, gift cards and voucher codes. Bank employees had warned her about possible fraud, but the man had gained her trust over several weeks and repeatedly promised to repay the money.

Police said romance scammers operate very skilfully. Anyone who falls victim should not be ashamed, but should stop payments immediately and contact the police.