Cape Town - Police are calling on brides-to-be ripped off in an apparent wedding dress scam to come forward so a stronger case may be built against the scheme’s alleged mastermind.
Several of the brides, who say they paid for wedding gowns they did not receive, have lodged complaints with police.
This week, following the arrest of the Cape Town woman alleged to have defrauded them, several more said they planned to do so.
Renette Haramis, 33, was arrested in Atlantis on Tuesday.
She ran the business, Wedding Junkie – Affordable Designer Gowns, advertised on a Facebook page with the same name.
It is alleged Haramis promised women their dream wedding gowns. While some bought dresses from her, others paid for theirs but allegedly did not receive them.
Haramis appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, and was remanded
She is to appear in court again next week.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut urged other brides who had been let down to
contact the investigating officer, Detective Constable Monde Mtyeku, at 021 486 2840.
One of the brides-to-be who approached police was Megan von Wielligh, 25, of Woodstock, who said “I’m glad all of us took a stand and that no other future bride will have to go through this trauma.
“We have had enough of people thinking we are easy targets. We are overstressed brides who cannot afford to let people take advantage of us.”
Von Wielligh hopes all who have paid but not received their dresses will contact the police.
“They have no reason to be ashamed of what’s happened.”
A Facebook group, Wedding Assistance For WJ Scammed Brides, has been set up and has 100 members.
Wedding Junkie’s Facebook page says the business imports original designer gowns.
“We offer a range of 6 000-plus beautiful bridal designs to choose from.” The shipping of dresses is free, the page says.
One of the last posts on the page, on September 30 and under a second name Haramis apparently used, said she was tired as she was pregnant. The post explained how the business operated.
“(Wedding Junkie) is an e-commerce initiative meant to provide brides with… better-priced gowns because there are no overheads.”
Weekend Argus
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