Marriage ceremony Photographer Sentenced to Jail for Scamming 160 {Couples}

A marriage photographer in South Korea has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for taking funds from over 160 {couples} however by no means delivering the pictures.

According to reports by South Korean media, the marriage photographer, recognized solely as Mr. A and described as being in his 20s, was convicted on fraud prices by the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 11.

Prosecutors say the photographer, who owned a marriage images firm, deceived roughly 170 brides and grooms between July 2022 and January 2024 after contacting them by way of a service-matching utility.

He is accused of promising {couples}: “If you send the filming fee, we will shoot videos or photos on your wedding day and send the original files,” after which taking round 88 million received, or roughly $61,000.

But as a substitute, many {couples} didn’t obtain their unique or edited wedding ceremony photographs or movies after Mr. A filmed for them. Others have been unable to acquire refunds after cancelling their contracts, and in some circumstances, the photographer didn’t seem on the marriage day in any respect.

Investigators discovered that Mr. A was experiencing monetary difficulties and used cash paid by newlywed {couples} for private residing bills or to cowl filming and labor prices for different shoppers. Authorities described this technique as a “rolling payment” operation, during which funds from new prospects are used to pay earlier obligations.

On Monday, a South Korean court docket sentenced the marriage photographer to 1 yr and 6 months in jail for defrauding 160 {couples}. The court docket additionally ordered Mr. A to pay compensation starting from about $230 (332,000 received) to $526 (760,000 received) to every of eight victims who filed compensation claims. However, the court docket says it’ll withhold detention if Mr. A can repay all his victims.

In delivering the sentence to the marriage photographer, the presiding decide says: “There are numerous victims and the damages are substantial.”

Earlier this month, PetaPixel reported on a marriage photographer who allegedly fled to Dubai regardless of owing 1000’s of {dollars} in court-ordered refunds to prospects who by no means acquired their photographs. The photographer is accused of scamming dozens of {couples}, by taking funds from them for wedding ceremony photographs and movies that have been by no means delivered.

Image credit: Header photograph licensed by way of Depositphotos.