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CRIME

Missing journalist fell for Nigerian scam

A retired Austrian journalist who has been missing since the end of May is presumed dead, after losing large sums of money to a Nigerian ‘black money’ scam.

Published: 12 September 2014 16:21 CEST

Missing journalist fell for Nigerian scam

The ORF centre in Carinthia. Photo: APA/Hochmuth

Police spokesman Roman Hahslinger said that Peter Pirker, formerly head of the ORF regional news studio in Carinthia, was reported missing on May 21st and has not been seen since, nor are there any clues as to his whereabouts. Police believe he committed suicide.

He disappeared from his home in Vienna the day before his 70th birthday. In 2013 he fell for a scam known as the black money or wash wash scam, where con artists attempt to fraudulently obtain money from victims by persuading them that piles of banknote-sized paper in a trunk or a safe is really money which has been dyed black (to avoid detection by customs).

Pirker is believed to have been persuaded to pay for chemicals to wash the "money", thinking that he would then get a share in the proceeds.

News magazine reports that he flew to Paris last year to view a demonstration of the ‘money cleaning machine’, then sold his house in Carinthia and sent a large sum of money to Nigeria. He was declared bankrupt by the time he disappeared in May.

Relatives believe that he may have gone to Nigeria to find out what happened to his money.

Peter Pirker. Photo: APA/Eggenberger

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UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible 'threat' to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Vienna police confirmed they are investigating a non-specified threat to the Donau Zentrum shopping centre, located in the Austrian capital’s 22nd district, a spokesperson told The Local.

On Monday, pictures of an alleged internal document sent by the shopping centre to tenants circulated on social media and messaging apps. The document stated there was a “threat against the Westfield Donau Zentrum for April 30, 2024”. It stated that the authorities had been working to identify suspects since yesterday.

“The source of the threat is a photo circulating online”, the statement said without giving further details. “If we receive additional information or specifications, we will immediately inform you”, it added.

“There is currently no reason for you as an employee to worry as we are strictly following police guidelines”, the document said. It was signed by a manager of the shopping centre. The Local reached out to Donau Zentrum media representatives, who confirmed a threat against the centre.

“The Center Management of Westfield Donau Zentrum can confirm a threat against the center and is in ongoing communication with the relevant authorities. We are taking the situation seriously. The safety of everyone in the center is our top priority. After coordination with the authorities, the center will be open as usual today”, they said.

The Vienna police confirmed the veracity of the statement and added, “We are aware of the matter and are investigating,” they replied after an inquiry on their official social media channels. The Local reached out to the press office for further clarification but has not yet received a response.

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