Matrimonial sites and apps are meant to help people find their true partners, but with the increasing number of fraud cases, they have also become hunting grounds for scammers.
Setting the Trap
A recent case from Gurugram highlights how these fraudsters operate. A software engineer, looking for a life partner, created an ID on a matrimonial website in December 2024.
Soon, she connected with a man named Sachin Singh, who claimed to be a civil engineer from the Netherlands.
Sachin quickly gained her trust and shared his WhatsApp number to continue their conversation. After a few days, he told her that he was sending €80,000 and some cash to her due to luggage restrictions.
However, he said that she needed to pay customs duty to receive it.
To make the story believable, another person, posing as a customs officer, contacted her.
This “official” sent her a WhatsApp message, instructing her to transfer ₹11,40,999 in multiple transactions. Once she made the payments, both Sachin and the so-called customs officer became unreachable; only then did she realize she had been scammed.
The Rising Threat of Matrimonial Scams
Unfortunately, this is not the only one matrimonial scam case. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cyber fraud cases related to online matrimony have surged by over 37% in the past two years.
In 2023 alone, more than 2,500 cases of online matrimonial fraud were reported across India, with victims losing crores of rupees.
Fraudsters exploit the trust and emotions of individuals seeking a partner, using well-planned tactics to deceive them.
The rise of such scams calls for stricter regulations on matrimonial websites, better verification processes, and increased awareness among users.
Before trusting anyone online, always verify their details, avoid transferring money to strangers. Remember, awareness is the first step in preventing such scams.
How to Report Online Frauds in India?
If you’ve fallen victim to a matrimonial scam or any other online fraud, don’t hesitate to seek help.
Register with us today, and our expert team will assist you in reporting the case to the relevant platform and guide you through the recovery process.
