Queensland Police have charged a 53-year-old Beaudesert woman following a six-month investigation into alleged fraud involving a wedding dress business in Cairns.
Operation Victor Rickenbacker was established in July 2023 after a Cairns woman allegedly gave her custom wedding dress to a bridal company in September 2022 for dry cleaning before seeing it had been sold to another person on social media.
Cairns detectives executed a search warrant at properties in Edmonton, Cairns North and Smithfield over the following months and allegedly seized electronic devices, documents and replica wedding gowns.
During the investigation, it will be alleged an additional 69 victims from across Queensland contacted police with similar complaints between January 2019 and July 2023.
On January 2, 2024, detectives travelled to Beaudesert and arrested a 53-year-old Beaudesert woman at a Cryna Rd address.
She has since been charged with 70 counts of fraud.
She is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on January 30.
Officer in charge of Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Matt Hogan said the outcome of the six-month investigation was a result of outstanding police work.
"Detectives worked tirelessly and in cooperation with the 70 alleged victims during this six-month operation," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Hogan said.
"There may be more victims yet to contact police, if you have any information about suspected fraudulent businesses, please report it to Policelink."
1:38 - 1:58 - Search warrants at Cairns business, 2023
Quote this reference number: QP2301154904
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
