International Gang Rented and Sold Vehicles

An internationally operating group of fraudsters is said to have unlawfully sold a total of 15 vehicles in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland – including 13 motorhomes and two cars. The perpetrators rented the vehicles from rental companies and private individuals and then offered them for sale on online platforms. The Upper Austria State Police Directorate estimates the total damage at around one million euros. All vehicles were seized, some even before they could be resold.

Perpetrators from Several Countries

According to police information, the alleged fraudsters come from Austria, Serbia, Croatia, and Romania. The crime scenes extended over several federal states – including Upper Austria, Salzburg, Vienna, Tyrol, and Styria – as well as beyond the national borders into Switzerland and Germany. They are said to have carried out their criminal activities there between the end of 2023 and September 2024.

First Verdicts and Ongoing Investigations

A final verdict was issued in July 2024 against a Romanian citizen. He was sentenced to an unconditional prison term in Graz. He is also attributed with the resale of the two involved cars. Other suspects are in pre-trial detention in Linz or have been reported at large.

A suspected accomplice from Serbia is currently on the run. Two other individuals are being publicly sought. The Innsbruck public prosecutor's office has ordered a search for them.

(APA/Red)

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