Perpetrators on the run

Expensive agricultural machinery scammed with a cheap scam

A cunning fraudster and a gullible victim (57) - a bad combination that is currently keeping the police in the Waldviertel region busy. 

Originally, the 57-year-old farmer living in the district of Krems had wanted to part with his used mower. An interested party, who claimed to be a Hungarian citizen, then came by in person to take a closer look at the valuable agricultural machine. He liked it - and so a verbal agreement on the sale was reached on the spot.

First reloading, then money ...
However, he did not want to pay the four-figure sum demanded straight away. Instead, the supposed buyer assured him that he would first take the mower to Zwettl and reload it there. He would then drive back and pay. The 57-year-old even unwittingly helped to implement his perfidious plan: Together with an unknown accomplice, he lifted the device onto a flatbed truck.

The two fraudsters then drove off with the mower - and never came back. After hours of waiting, the farmer finally had no choice but to go to the police.