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The Austrian Ministry of Finance has issued an urgent warning about a growing wave of fraudulent emails circulating acro...
15/01/2026

The Austrian Ministry of Finance has issued an urgent warning about a growing wave of fraudulent emails circulating across the country, falsely claiming to come from the ministry.

‎According to the ministry, many citizens and business owners are currently receiving fake messages alleging that outstanding payments must be settled. These emails often include forged payment reminders and attachments, pressuring recipients to transfer money to foreign bank accounts.
‎Officials stress that this is a deliberate scam and that the ministry would never communicate in this manner.

‎In a formal statement, the Ministry of Finance clarified that all official communications are issued exclusively as digitally signed notices and are delivered either by post or through the secure FinanzOnline digital mailbox. The ministry emphasized that it never asks individuals to provide personal information such as passwords, credit card details, or bank account data via email.

‎Authorities have urged the public to ignore such messages entirely, warning people not to click on any links, open attachments, or follow instructions contained in suspicious emails. Any such messages should be deleted immediately.

‎The ministry also outlined common scam tactics currently being used, including:
‎Claims of pending tax refunds or repayments
‎Allegations of unpaid debts or imminent asset seizures
‎Warnings about suspicious login attempts or required updates to FinanzOnline accounts
‎Requests for additional compliance checks
‎Demands for information related to cryptocurrency assets

‎Officials note that online fraudsters are increasingly using sophisticated methods to make their messages appear authentic. These emails often impersonate trusted institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Austrian Tax Office, the Customs Authority, or the FinanzOnline platform.

‎The Ministry of Finance reiterated its call for vigilance, warning that cybercriminals are becoming more professional in their attempts to steal personal data and money from unsuspecting victims.

Extreme cold has claimed the lives of two men in Vienna in recent days, highlighting the deadly risks faced by homeless ...
14/01/2026

Extreme cold has claimed the lives of two men in Vienna in recent days, highlighting the deadly risks faced by homeless people during winter, aid organisations said on Tuesday.

According to information confirmed by the charity Caritas, both men died after suffering severe hypothermia amid sub-zero temperatures across the Austrian capital.

One man was found unresponsive by a street outreach team in a park in the Favoriten district on January 11. Social workers immediately alerted emergency services and attempted resuscitation together with police officers, but paramedics pronounced the man dead shortly after arriving at the scene.

A second case occurred a day earlier in the Floridsdorf district. Outreach workers found a homeless man in critical condition, barely conscious and severely hypothermic. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, but later died despite intensive medical treatment. Local residents later lit candles at the site in his memory.

Caritas Director Klaus Schwertner said the deaths had deeply affected aid workers and underscored the dangers posed by prolonged cold spells.
“We are all very saddened,” Schwertner said. “Despite the strong cooperation between volunteers, emergency services, the police and the City of Vienna, people are once again dying on the streets. This shows how vital it is to remain alert and look out for one another.”

Caritas operates emergency cold-weather services, including heated buses, night shelters and mobile street teams. The organisation’s cold-weather hotline has received up to 350 calls per day in recent weeks, often from members of the public reporting people at risk.

Since November, more than 8,000 calls have been logged in Vienna alone, Caritas said. The city has recently added 40 additional emergency shelter beds in response to rising demand.

Aid groups are urging residents to contact the cold-weather hotline or emergency services if they see someone exposed to life-threatening conditions. “Every call can save a life,” Caritas said.

Austria’s coalition government convened for a two-day closed retreat on Tuesday and Wednesday at a luxury hotel in Mauer...
13/01/2026

Austria’s coalition government convened for a two-day closed retreat on Tuesday and Wednesday at a luxury hotel in Mauerbach, near Vienna, to outline its policy priorities for 2026. Leaders from the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS parties met in a small circle to discuss measures addressing inflation, migration and industrial policy.

Before travelling to Mauerbach, the party leaders paid a courtesy visit to President Alexander Van der Bellen. In a post on X, the president stressed the need for reform, writing: “We need reforms — that much is obvious. Austria is our shared project.”

The government delegation arrived at the venue shortly before 1 p.m., more than an hour later than scheduled. Chancellor Christian Stocker greeted those present with handshakes, including police officers on site. Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, however, was seen engaged in a phone call and did not take part in the greetings.

Following the delayed arrival, the three coalition leaders addressed journalists who had been waiting outside in freezing temperatures. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger opened the remarks with a light-hearted comment, asking reporters whether they had been waiting long.

Chancellor Stocker apologised for the delay and thanked the media for attending. Reflecting on the coalition’s first ten months in office, he said economic forecasts had improved but warned that further action was necessary. He said the retreat would focus on three core areas: strengthening industry, tackling high living costs and managing migration — priorities aligned with the government’s so-called “2-1-0 strategy”.


A woman reported missing in southern Austria remains unaccounted for days after her disappearance, as investigators ques...
13/01/2026

A woman reported missing in southern Austria remains unaccounted for days after her disappearance, as investigators question a member of the elite Cobra police unit who was the last known person to see her.

‎Johanna G., a 34-year-old fitness trainer from Tillmitsch in the district of Leibnitz, has been missing since Saturday, 10 January. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her has been found, and concern is growing that she may have fallen victim to a violent crime.

‎A 30-year-old Cobra officer from southeastern Styria was arrested on Monday in connection with the case. According to investigators, he met Johanna several months ago via a dating app. Initially, the officer denied ever having met her and gave conflicting statements. Only after police confronted him with chat records did he admit to having sporadic contact with her.

‎The officer later acknowledged that he met Johanna on Friday evening, shortly before her disappearance, allegedly to “clear things up.” He is currently the last confirmed person to have seen her. He told investigators she appeared to be in good health at the time. He said he had initially concealed the meetings because he is in a committed relationship and wanted to keep the affair secret.

‎Police searches of Johanna’s apartment in Tillmitsch and the officer’s residence found no signs of violence. However, investigators seized several privately owned fi****ms and ammunition from the officer, all of which were legally owned. Authorities have since imposed a weapons ban on him.

‎According to people close to the missing woman, Johanna had spoken of being pregnant in the early stages. Austrian media report that the Cobra officer may be the father. If confirmed, investigators say this could represent a possible motive. The officer has denied paternity.

‎Police stress that all scenarios remain under consideration, including foul play, su***de, or other circumstances. The officer is not currently considered a primary suspect but is due to be questioned again. Investigators are also reconstructing detailed timelines to verify whether his statements are consistent.

Marcel Hirscher will not compete in alpine skiing during the Olympic winter. The 36-year-old former champion has instead...
11/01/2026

Marcel Hirscher will not compete in alpine skiing during the Olympic winter. The 36-year-old former champion has instead turned his attention to another sport.

‎The ski world had been eagerly awaiting a second comeback from Hirscher. The Salzburg-born star had planned a return to the slopes after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in December 2024. However, on Friday he announced he was stepping back from those plans.

‎“It’s just not possible,” said Hirscher, who now represents the Netherlands, in a video posted on Instagram. He admitted that his current level was “not good enough for the World Cup,” based on training sessions with top athletes. “If I’m going to race in the World Cup again, I want to do it properly,” he added.

‎Hirscher later noted that he would continue training and “maybe make it work next year.”

‎While he has not abandoned his ambition of claiming a 68th World Cup victory, the eight-time overall World Cup champion is putting that goal on hold for now. In an Instagram story on Sunday, Hirscher shared a video of himself snowboarding, including a heavy fall.

‎“Sometimes you have to try something new,” he wrote alongside a photo showing him snowboarding in deep powder.

‎Exploring other sports is nothing new for Hirscher. Over the years, he has frequently been seen riding motocross bikes, mountain biking and competing in car racing.



Austrian comedian Monica Weinzettl had an unexpected and eventful start to the new year. Writing on Facebook, the 58-yea...
11/01/2026

Austrian comedian Monica Weinzettl had an unexpected and eventful start to the new year. Writing on Facebook, the 58-year-old shared the string of mishaps she and her husband, Gerold Rudle have experienced since January 1.

In a video post, Weinzettl recounted the events she would rather forget. Her year began with a medical emergency that required her to be taken to the hospital by paramedics. Although she recovered quickly, the troubles didn’t stop there.
During a meal, Weinzettl chipped a tooth, and shortly after, her husband caused another scare by accidentally parking her car into their touring vehicle.

Despite the setbacks, Weinzettl approached the incidents with humor. “So, dear 2026, goodbye, and welcome 2027,” she joked, reflecting on the turbulent start to the year. Fans hope that calmer days lie ahead for the couple.

Austrian downhill skier Magdalena Egger was taken to hospital by helicopter after crashing during the Women’s World Cup ...
10/01/2026

Austrian downhill skier Magdalena Egger was taken to hospital by helicopter after crashing during the Women’s World Cup downhill race in Zauchensee on Saturday.

‎The 24-year-old, regarded as one of Austria’s leading hopes, lost control in a left-hand turn on the shortened Kälberloch course, which had been reduced in length due to snowfall. Starting with bib number 17, Egger slid off the course and crashed into the safety fencing, forcing an immediate halt to the race.

‎Medical staff rushed to the scene as Egger initially appeared to have escaped serious injury, despite bleeding from her nose. She attempted to stand up but was unable to continue and soon sat back down on the snow, visibly distressed.

‎A rescue helicopter was subsequently called to airlift her from the slope. Egger was seen in tears as she was transported to hospital.

‎The extent of her injuries is not yet known, and officials said the helicopter evacuation may have been a precautionary measure. Further updates on her condition are expected later.


Renate H. from Traismauer had ordered a kitchen appliance online, but instead of the excitement of receiving her package...
10/01/2026

Renate H. from Traismauer had ordered a kitchen appliance online, but instead of the excitement of receiving her package, she was left frustrated: the package arrived ripped open, and the contents were missing.

‎The 68-year-old Austrian, who was on her way to Alanya in Turkey at the time, paid €30 for a vegetable slicer she never received. A friend discovered the damaged package in her hallway on December 7, days after it was due to arrive on November 28.

‎"Someone had clearly tampered with it," Renate said, expressing her disbelief at the audacity of the thief. She has already filed a police report but doesn’t hold out much hope that the culprit will be found.

‎The online store contacted Renate a few days later, offering to replace the stolen item and apologizing for the inconvenience. While she acknowledges that the retailer is not at fault, she appreciates the gesture.

‎"It’s unfortunate, and honestly shocking, but at least they’re trying to make it right," she said.


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