Fake profiles, marriage promises: Government warns of rising matrimonial fraud

The Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has warned people against a sharp rise in online matrimonial frauds, saying cybercriminals are exploiting matrimonial websites and apps by posing as wealthy professionals or NRIs, gaining victims' trust with promises of marriage and then duping them of large sums of money.

In an advisory, the agency said the growing popularity of digital matrimonial platforms has created fresh opportunities for fraudsters, who often create fake profiles claiming to be doctors, engineers, businessmen, Army officers or professionals working abroad.

After building emotional connections through regular conversations, they begin seeking money on various pretexts, including customs charges for gifts, travel expenses, visa fees or medical emergencies.

According to the agency, the fraud typically follows a predictable pattern. The accused first create attractive fake profiles with fabricated credentials and photographs to impress prospective partners. After establishing trust over days or weeks of conversations, they express a desire to marry before introducing financial requests.

The advisory noted that many victims transfer money believing they are helping their prospective partner. Once the payment is made, the fraudsters either disappear or continue demanding additional funds using new excuses.

The agency also outlined measures users can take to protect themselves and flagged several warning signs that should not be ignored while interacting on matrimonial platforms.

These include someone rushing into marriage within days of meeting online, seeking money on any pretext, claiming to have sent expensive gifts that require customs clearance, refusing video calls or identity verification and using emotional manipulation with statements such as, "If you love me, help me," or citing an emergency to seek financial assistance.

The agency urged users to verify the identity of every prospective match before placing their trust in them. It advised people never to transfer money to someone known only through the internet and to independently verify employment details, social media accounts and family background before proceeding with any relationship.

The advisory also recommends conducting video calls, asking to speak to family members and using reverse image search tools to check whether profile photographs have been stolen from elsewhere online.

The Home Ministry said victims of such fraud should immediately report the incident by calling the national cyber helpline, 1930, and file a complaint through the government's cybercrime portal.

It advised victims to preserve all evidence, including chat records, profile links, mobile numbers, emails, UPI IDs, bank transaction receipts and call recordings, to assist investigators.

Officials said matrimonial fraud differs from conventional financial scams because it is rooted in emotional manipulation. Fraudsters first build trust and exploit victims' hopes of marriage before convincing them to part with money, often leaving behind not only financial losses but also deep emotional trauma.

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