Three young men from Vienna, aged 17 to 21, were implicated in a gang scheme involving the misuse of foreign bank accounts for fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp scams. They faced legal consequences, including suspended sentences and probation. Victims lost significant amounts of money, and the young men attempted to justify their actions, claiming deception and coercion. The case highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and ongoing investigations into the criminal organization behind the scams.
Criminal Exploitation of Young Viennese
At the start of the year, three young individuals from Vienna found themselves embroiled in criminal activities orchestrated by a gang that required foreign bank accounts to facilitate illicit money transfers from victims of SMS and WhatsApp scams. Recently, these young men, aged between 17 and 21, faced legal repercussions for their involvement. The older two received suspended sentences from the Vienna Regional Court, while the youngest was granted a diversion.
A Case of Deception and Consequences
A Viennese woman fell victim to a fraudulent SMS that appeared to be from the Ministry of Finance, prompting her to click on a link where she unwittingly entered her banking details. As a result, over 25,000 euros were siphoned off from her account, with nearly 10,000 euros landing in the account of the 21-year-old accused, while around 3,000 euros went to the 20-year-old. Furthermore, an additional 2,500 euros was transferred to the 21-year-old from a man who, believing he was communicating with his daughter, was solicited for financial help due to a supposed phone loss.
The Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office is actively pursuing the masterminds behind these scams, identifying and arresting several individuals believed to be part of a gang operating from the Netherlands. They are currently facing charges related to serious fraud, criminal organization, and other illicit activities. The young accomplices provided various justifications to Judge Daniel Schmitzberger regarding their involvement in these clearly illegal schemes.
The 21-year-old recounted being contacted through Snapchat with an offer to make quick money. After meeting a seemingly trustworthy individual who claimed to run an ‘online business,’ he was persuaded to allow his account to be used for incoming payments, with promises of sharing the profits. He later realized he had been deceived: ‘I was set up. I never saw the guy again. He blocked me on Snapchat.’ All the funds were withdrawn immediately, and he received nothing.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old explained that he had been approached by an acquaintance who needed to use his account for Bitcoin transactions. ‘I didn’t know he was fooling me. I had known him for so long. I was stupid,’ he admitted, reflecting on his initial ignorance and later suspicions about the situation.
Ultimately, the 20-year-old received a two-month suspended sentence for his involvement in the fraud, while the 21-year-old was handed a nine-month probationary sentence. Both were mandated to undergo probation assistance.
The case of the 17-year-old was notably different, as his account was also exploited for transfers linked to WhatsApp scams. During the trial, it was revealed that the teenager suffers from autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and anxiety disorders. He described an encounter on the street where he was pressured by several youths for money. Lacking cash, they coerced him into handing over his ATM card and PIN. ‘I was paranoid. I was afraid of them. I didn’t want to get into trouble with them,’ he recounted, recognizing them as local acquaintances.
He later noticed unusual transactions in his account and admitted that money was consistently withdrawn. In a subsequent meeting with the group, he even opened a second account at their request to alleviate pressure. When questioned by the judge about why he didn’t report the incidents to the police, the teenager remained silent, prompting his mother to interject, stating, ‘He was blackmailed. He was pressured.’ The teenager, however, expressed his reluctance to discuss it further.
Ultimately, he managed to avoid a criminal record, accepting partial compensation of 1,000 euros and a two-year probation period without any offenses. In exchange, the complaint was initially put on hold, preserving his unblemished status. He will also be assigned a probation officer, with the prosecution agreeing to this resolution.