A 53-year-old woman of Indian descent, Prelyn Mohanlall, has been arrested in South Africa for scamming 17 couples by charging them for the same wedding venue on the same day. A private security company tracked down this disbarred attorney after victims reported their experiences.
Mohanlall reportedly persuaded couples to pay substantial amounts upfront for a wedding venue to which she had no actual ties. When the couples arrived for their weddings, they found the venue empty and lacking basic utilities like water and electricity, ruining their special days.
Although she was arrested on January 8, her attorney and family have promised to repay the victims, which may allow her to avoid jail time. Her name was not initially released because she had not yet appeared in court. The security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), later identified her publicly.
This scam affected victims across various provinces in South Africa. One couple hired RUSA in December 2023 to locate Mohanlall, which led to the discovery of 17 other couples who had also been scammed. A detective from the South African Police Service informed RUSA that Mohanlall was wanted for two additional fraud cases from 2024, including defrauding a car dealership and another couple.
Mohanlall has a long history of fraud spanning over 20 years and was previously disbarred for stealing from a client’s trust fund. Despite this, she claims that her business faced difficulties and insists that she is not a scammer. She stated that she owed nine couples about R60,000 (approximately $3,200) and intended to repay them.
One victim shared how they had to cancel their wedding and start saving again to plan a new one due to the financial impact of the scam. He expressed disappointment over how their dream wedding turned into a struggle to afford a simpler event.
As discussions continue about compensation for the victims, Mohanlall’s court appearance will determine if her repayment promises will affect her legal consequences.
