BIRMINGHAM (WWJ) – The former owner of a Birmingham bridal shop is in trouble with the law after allegedly scamming customers out of money and abruptly closing her shop earlier this summer.
Nadica Ristivojevic of West Bloomfield was arraigned last Friday on nine counts of false pretenses - $1,000 or more, but less than $20,000 – one count for each of the nine alleged victims, according to the Birmingham Police Department.
Birmingham police began receiving reports from multiple customers who said they paid thousands of dollars to Ristivojevic’s Birmingham Bridal for designer wedding dresses, only to never get the dresses or refunds.
Ristivojevic, 58, allegedly gave customers various excuses as to why they didn’t get their dresses. The customers were then forced to place rush orders elsewhere to receive dresses in time for their weddings, according to police.
In total, the victims were allegedly defrauded out of between $40,000 and $50,000, according to police.
Birmingham Bridal “abruptly closed” in June 2023, police officials said.
Detectives then conducted an extensive investigation, discovering that the business was struggling and Ristivojevic was using funds from new orders to pay for older orders.
Investigators say Ristivojevic had a gambling habit and she admitted she was trying to win back enough money to pay for the dress orders.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Ristivojevic’s arrest last Tuesday and she was arrested and arraigned on Friday.
Bond was set at $750,000 cash/surety and she was held at the Oakland County Jail.
Authorities are asking any other potential victims of Birmingham Bridal to contact detective Rebekah Springer at 248-530-1895.
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