Matrimony fraud is when someone uses a fake marriage profile, or a real one with false details, to take money or private photos from a family. Nearly every such scam ends with a request for money from a person you have never met. If you have lost money online, call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 at once, or file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.
This page covers fraud that starts on a matrimony site, in a WhatsApp group or through a broker. For grooms who live abroad and leave the bride after the wedding, read our separate page on NRI marriage fraud.
Common Matrimony Scams
These patterns come up again and again in police warnings and news reports. The names and stories change. The ending does not.
| Scam | How it usually goes |
|---|---|
| The officer abroad | A profile says he is a doctor in the UK, an engineer on a ship or an army officer on posting. He cannot video call "for security reasons". Soon there is an emergency and he needs money. |
| The customs gift | He says he has sent a costly gift with gold in it. A "customs officer" calls and asks you to pay a clearance fee or penalty before it can be delivered. There is no gift. |
| The investment match | After weeks of sweet talk, the match shares an app or website for trading or crypto that "made lakhs". You invest small amounts, see fake profits, then cannot withdraw. |
| The sympathy story | A divorcee or widower with a sad past asks for help with a hospital bill, a court case or a child's fees. |
| Photos and threats | Video calls turn personal, the call is recorded, and then comes a demand for money to not share it. |
| The fake broker or site agent | Someone says he is from a matrimony site or a bureau and asks for a fee or an OTP to "activate" premium. |
Jeevansathi's own fraud alert page warns about the last one. It says the site never asks for your password by phone or in person.
Warning Signs at Each Stage
A fraud follows a path. Spotting it early saves money and heartache.
On the Profile
- A very good-looking photo, a high salary and a job abroad, with very little else written.
- The same photo shows up on a different profile with another name. A reverse image search on Google Lens can show this in a minute.
- No family details, or a family that lives "abroad too".
In the First Chats
- He or she wants to move off the site to WhatsApp or Telegram on day one.
- Words of love within a week. Talk of marriage before any meeting.
- Calls only at odd hours, and video is always "not working".
Before Any Meeting
- The meeting keeps getting cancelled because of a posting or a visa problem.
- Then, a request for money. Small at first, for a "ticket" or a "fee", then larger each time.
A real match from a real family will meet you, with parents, at a place you choose. Our list of red flags in an arranged marriage covers the slower, family-side warning signs.
Checks to Do Before You Trust a Profile
You can do most of these from home in an evening.
- Ask for a video call where he or she is at home or at work. Not a photo, a live call.
- Search the full name and the company on Google and LinkedIn. Does the job exist, and does the face match?
- Call the company's main office number, taken from its own website, and ask if the person works there.
- Ask for the parents' phone number and talk to them. Fraudsters rarely have parents ready to speak.
- Ask a relative or friend in his or her city to visit the address, or the family's native place.
- Meet in person, with family, before anything is fixed.
If the other side gets angry at a polite check, that is your answer.
What Never to Share or Send
Some things should never go to someone you have only met online, however long you have been talking.
| Never send | Why |
|---|---|
| Money, by UPI or bank transfer | Almost every matrimony scam ends here |
| An OTP, of any kind | An OTP lets someone else into your bank or your matrimony account |
| Your matrimony site password | No real site staff will ask for it |
| Aadhaar or bank details | They can be misused for loans or SIM cards |
| Private photos or videos | They are used for threats later |
| Screen sharing on a video call | The other person can see your OTPs and banking apps |
If you already sent something, stop all contact with the person now, but do not delete the chats. You will need them as proof.
How to Report Matrimony Fraud
Report quickly, especially when money has gone. The faster the bank is told, the better the chance of stopping the money from moving on.
- Call 1930. This is the national helpline for financial cyber fraud. The Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre says it runs in all states and union territories, and connects to banks and payment apps.
- File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. It takes all types of cybercrime, so a fake profile or a threat can be reported there too, and you can track your complaint's status online.
- Report the profile to the matrimony site. On Shaadi.com, open the profile, tap the down arrow at the top right and choose Report Profile/Photo. On Jeevansathi, use Report Abuse and write to help@jeevansathi.com.
- Tell your bank, and ask them to block the card or UPI ID if it was used.
- If someone threatens you or your family, go to your nearest police station. In an emergency, call 112.
Keep these ready before you call: the profile ID and screenshots, the phone numbers used, every UPI ID or account number you paid to. Note the amount and time of each payment too.
Protecting Your Biodata
A biodata has your photo, your family's names and your phone number. Shared carelessly, it can be copied to make a fake profile.
- Never put an Aadhaar number or the full house address on a biodata. Leave out PAN and bank details too. Town and area are enough.
- Share the biodata with families and brokers you know, or who came through someone you know.
- In large WhatsApp groups, post a short text and send the full biodata only on request.
- If you find your photo on a profile that is not yours, report it to the site and on cybercrime.gov.in.
Our guide on sending a biodata on WhatsApp has the safe way to share. To keep sensitive details out from the start, make a biodata with only the fields you choose.
More guides for families are in our arranged marriage section, including how to choose a matrimony site.
Common questions
How to Identify a Fake Profile on a Matrimony Site?
Look for a profile with a job abroad, a perfect photo and almost no family details, and a person who avoids video calls and meetings. Run the photo through a reverse image search and ask to speak to the parents.
What Are Common Matrimony Scams in India?
The fake officer abroad who needs money, the customs gift fee, the trading app that will not pay out, the sympathy story about a hospital or court bill, and threats with recorded video calls.
How to Report Matrimony Fraud?
Call 1930 if you lost money, and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Report the profile on the matrimony site and inform your bank.
Is It Safe to Share My Biodata Publicly?
Not with full details. Leave out Aadhaar and the full address, and share the complete biodata only with families you know or who came through someone you trust.
What Should I Never Share with a Match?
Money and OTPs, first of all. Also your passwords, Aadhaar, and private photos. Never share your screen on a video call either.
Sources
Related Guides
Still at the Biodata Stage?
Pick a design, fill in your details and download your biodata as a PDF or an image.