How An Australian Woman Exploited 70 Brides In Fake Dry Cleaning Scheme

An Australian woman has shattered the dreams of 70 brides after allegedly posing as a dry cleaner and swindling them out of their precious wedding gowns. The 53-year-old from Queensland, operated under the guise of "Prestige Bridal Cleaning" between 2019 and 2023.

The woman is accused of luring brides with promises of delicate care, only to vanish with their treasured garments and sell them online for a fraction of their value. Detectives have so far identified 70 victims, but they believe there could be more. They are urging anyone who thinks they may have been scammed by Prestige Bridal Cleaning to come forward.

Australian Woman Scammed 70 Brides Duping As Fake Dry Cleaner

The woman's fraud came to the attention of investigators when a Cairns bride, eyes glued to social media, stumbled upon a chilling sight: a stranger flaunting her custom-made wedding dress, the very one she entrusted to Prestige Bridal Cleaning months ago in September 2022.

Alarmed, she raised the red flag, triggering a police investigation in July 2023 that unravelled a trail of shattered dreams and broken trust by the accused woman after a rigorous six-month investigation.

As per the reports, additionally, 69 other women came forward, accounting for similar incidents with their wedding dresses ranging from January 2019 to July 2023.

The investigators quickly identified the 70 victims, personally getting in touch and attending their ordeal as each bride shared a similar tale: lured by seemingly competitive prices and Prestige's polished online persona, they entrusted their cherished gowns, only to receive no garments and empty promises in return.

As per the Australian newspaper, the Brisbane Times, authorities codenamed the investigation "Operation Victor Rickenbacker" and quickly identified 70 victims, but fear the number could climb and urged others to share their accounts regarding crossing paths with a fraudulent business with police authorities. 

As per the Queensland police statement, the detectives at Crains carried out a search warrant at Crains North, Edmonton, and Smithfield and allegedly also seized electronic devices and documents, along with replica wedding gowns. 

The woman has been charged with 70 counts of fraud and is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on January 30.

An investigator told the Brisbane Times that they suspect over $110,000 of detriment has been caused to the victims by the alleged accused so far.