Exploiting the trust and dreams of others often becomes an opportunity for unscrupulous individuals. One such case has come to light, where an NRI woman orchestrated elaborate wedding scams targeting couples in South Africa. Her fraudulent activities have finally caught up with her after two decades.

Prelin Mohanal, a 53-year-old Indian-origin lawyer based in South Africa, preyed on couples planning their weddings through social media platforms. She presented herself as a wedding planner, offering picturesque venues for their special day. Her scheme involved convincing clients to pay hefty deposits upfront for these dream locations. However, upon arrival, couples discovered that the venues were either non-existent or lacked even basic amenities such as water and electricity. What was supposed to be a joyous celebration turned into a nightmare, leaving many couples scrambling to cancel or reschedule their weddings.

Over the years, Mohanal defrauded 17 couples by double-booking the same venue for multiple clients on a single day. The victims shared harrowing experiences of financial loss and emotional distress, with some stating they struggled to rearrange their weddings later that year.

Her downfall began when one couple, choosing to remain anonymous, took decisive action by filing a complaint. They collaborated with Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a private security agency, in December last year. RUSA tracked Mohanal's activities and apprehended her on January 7. According to spokesperson Prem Balram, investigations revealed a criminal history spanning over 20 years, with Mohanal involved in multiple scams.

Despite her arrest, Mohanal denies the allegations, claiming the situation arose due to business struggles rather than deliberate fraud. She asserted that she had informed the affected couples of her intent to refund their money. However, victims reported that her promises went unfulfilled, with some alleging she owed nearly 60,000 South African Rand (approximately ₹2,72,319).