The police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering suspiciously affordable wedding organizer (WO) promotions. This warning follows a major fraud case involving Marwah Catering, which left dozens of couples empty-handed.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (June 1), AKBP Bayu Kurniawan, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the East Jakarta Police, highlighted the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before hiring any wedding service provider. He warned that deals appearing too good to be true are often red flags for fraudulent schemes.
“We strongly advise the public to be vigilant when selecting a wedding organizer,” Bayu stated. He urged couples to carefully verify a company’s credentials, examine their track record, and assess whether their quoted prices align with industry standards. “If a price seems unrealistically low, do not be quick to trust it; it is likely a scam,” he added.
This advisory comes as authorities continue to investigate the Marwah Catering scandal, which affected 58 couples. The perpetrators utilized Instagram to lure potential clients with enticing, low-cost wedding packages.
The investigative team noted that the scam began on social media, where victims were drawn in by sponsored ads. Once initial contact was made, the suspects shifted the conversation to WhatsApp, where they finalized the deceptive, low-priced packages.
“The victims were initially attracted to these advertisements on Instagram, which led to private communication via WhatsApp,” explained investigators. By the time the scheme was uncovered, the total financial loss for the 58 victims had reached approximately Rp 2.6 billion.
The suspects, a married couple identified by their initials RM and ER, were eventually apprehended at a rented property in Cililin, West Bandung Regency, on Friday (May 29). Both individuals are now facing charges under Article 372 for embezzlement and Article 378 for fraud of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Summary
Police are warning the public to be cautious of suspiciously affordable wedding services following a major fraud case involving Marwah Catering. The scam, which defrauded 58 couples of approximately Rp 2.6 billion, utilized social media advertisements to lure victims with unrealistic, low-cost packages. Authorities have since apprehended the suspects, a married couple identified as RM and ER, who now face charges of embezzlement and fraud.
To prevent similar incidents, officials advise couples to conduct thorough due diligence by verifying a company’s credentials and professional track record. Investigators emphasized that prices significantly below industry standards are major red flags for potential scams. Couples are urged to carefully assess service providers before committing to any financial agreements to ensure their wedding plans remain secure.