Inside the Dark Reality of Romance & Matrimonial Scams in India

She thought she’d finally found someone who saw her for who she was — kind, accomplished, a little lonely after years of putting everyone else first. By the time she realized the man she’d fallen for wasn’t real, she had lost ₹18 lakh and a piece of her self-trust she’s still struggling to rebuild.

Romance and matrimonial scams exploit emotional vulnerability for financial gain. Scammers create false identities on dating apps, social media, or marriage portals to build trust, then manipulate victims into sending money or sharing sensitive information.

The numbers reveal how widespread this heartbreak has become. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported over $1.3 billion lost globally to romance scams in 2023, making it one of the costliest forms of cybercrime. In India, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cybercrime data shows a sharp year-on-year rise, with thousands of complaints linked to fake matrimonial profiles and online love traps.

This article examines how these scams work — their evolving tactics, gendered patterns, and the legal responses taking shape to combat them. It also outlines practical prevention strategies, aiming to replace shame with awareness and empower readers to recognize manipulation before it strikes.

Types & Variations of the Scams

Catfishing / Fake Persona - The most common form of romance fraud begins with a fake face. Scammers steal attractive photos from social media or use AI-generated images to create convincing but nonexistent people. Their profiles often describe jobs that explain distance — “working offshore,” “posted abroad,” or “on a peacekeeping mission.”

They appear on dating apps, matrimonial portals, and social media, crafting emotionally tuned stories that sound personal but are reused across dozens of victims. Once trust builds, the requests begin — help with an emergency, a sick relative, a blocked account, or even travel plans to “finally meet.”

Example: A Bengaluru woman lost ₹7 lakh to a “UK engineer” who claimed his wallet was seized at customs.

Matrimonial-Profile Fraud (Platform-Specific) - On matrimonial sites, the emotional leverage shifts from romance to family trust and social expectations. Fraudsters pose as eligible brides, grooms, or even “relatives” arranging matches. Once contact moves off-platform, they request money for visa processing, wedding arrangements, or dowry-like “formalities.”

Common variants include the “fake NRI groom” who vanishes after receiving funds or the “bride who disappears after dowry.” According to The New Indian Express, police have recently investigated multiple fake matrimonial profile cases under cybercrime and cheating provisions.

Example: In Hyderabad, a man posing as a Canada-based doctor swindled ₹12 lakh from several families before being traced through digital payments.

Advance-Fee & Investment Pull-Throughs (“Pig-Butchering”) - A newer and more organized model blends romance with investment fraud. The scammer spends weeks or months grooming the victim before introducing a “great opportunity” — often in crypto or forex trading. The victim invests gradually until the scammer disappears or the fake platform locks their funds.

These operations often run from scam centres across Asia, supported by money-mule networks that launder proceeds. Europol has flagged this model as a major transnational cybercrime trend.

Example: An Indian IT professional lost over ₹25 lakh to a “Taiwanese girlfriend” who guided him to a fake trading app.

Sextortion & Intimate-Image Blackmail - Here, the relationship turns dark once private images or videos are shared — sometimes consensually, sometimes under deception. The scammer then demands money to prevent exposure, targeting the victim’s fear and shame.

Victims rarely report these crimes due to stigma, but the emotional toll is immense. Police note a rise in “video-call sextortion” cases where AI filters or pre-recorded clips are used.

Example: A college student in Pune paid ₹40,000 after receiving threats that his intimate video would be sent to his family.

Identity Theft, Document Fraud & Visa/Dowry Scams - Scammers also exploit the bureaucratic side of trust. They ask for scanned IDs, bank details, or PAN cards — sometimes to open mule accounts or commit future fraud. Others promise marriage visas or overseas jobs for “processing fees.”

Example: A Delhi woman shared her passport with a supposed NRI suitor, only to find her identity later used for a loan application.

Across all types, the pattern is clear: emotional connection is the bait, money is the goal, and shame keeps victims silent.

Case studies, statistics & real-life examples

The financial and emotional cost of online romance fraud keeps climbing every year. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), victims worldwide lost more than $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2023, up from $956 million just two years earlier — making it one of the most damaging categories of online fraud.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network adds that these scams produce some of the highest median losses of any fraud type, often exceeding $4,000 per victim.

India has seen a parallel surge. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that cybercrime cases under “fraud” have more than tripled since 2019, with a growing share linked to online relationships. In Bengaluru, a bank officer lost ₹28 lakh after transferring funds to a supposed NRI fiancé who claimed to be detained at Heathrow Airport. Pune police recently documented a cluster of similar scams, all involving forged travel papers and cryptocurrency wallets. Analysts at Vajiram & Ravi note that such cases now cut across age, gender, and income — not just the lonely or naïve.

Globally, enforcement agencies are uncovering the machinery behind the manipulation. Interpol and Manila police have raided “scam centres” operating like call factories, where hundreds of workers are forced or paid to run simultaneous romantic conversations under fake identities. A joint investigation by The Australian revealed coordinated networks moving millions in crypto through shell companies and money-mule chains spread across Southeast Asia.

One woman from Chennai, who asked not to be named, described how her “London-based NRI fiancé” asked for ₹3 lakh to cover a medical emergency before his planned visit. “He sent photos from the hospital and said he couldn’t talk because of oxygen tubes,” she said. “That was the last I ever heard from him.”

Researchers say the emotional aftermath lingers longer than the financial loss. As one study from the University of Warwick put it, victims often describe the experience as “a betrayal that rewires how you trust people.”

Gendered dimensions

Research consistently shows that vulnerability to romance scams is shaped less by gullibility and more by emotional and social context. Studies by cyberpsychologist Monica Whitty and others find that middle-aged women seeking stable, long-term relationships are disproportionately targeted, particularly those recently divorced or widowed. Many victims describe a deep craving for connection that scammers expertly sense and exploit. The IC3 notes that people aged 60 and above suffer the largest financial losses, often because they possess savings and trust-based communication styles formed before the digital era.

Men are not spared. Investigations following AFP and Manila scam-centre busts show that investment-themed romance scams — especially those involving cryptocurrency or forex — disproportionately ensnare men over 40, who are groomed to see the scammer as both romantic partner and financial mentor. The emotional hook is different but equally powerful: pride, ambition, and the illusion of shared success.

In India, gender norms add another layer of risk. Cultural stigma around discussing sexuality or dating, combined with pressure to marry quickly, makes many victims hesitant to question suspicious behavior or report losses. Some scammers even exploit dowry expectations, posing as wealthy NRIs offering quick matches and financial security.

Across all demographics, loneliness, bereavement, migration, and language barriers magnify exposure — reminders that vulnerability is not a flaw but a reflection of human needs manipulated in digital disguise.

Law enforcement & regulatory responses

Law enforcement agencies have begun coordinating across borders to tackle the industrial scale of online romance and matrimonial scams. Interpol, Europol, and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have conducted joint operations that dismantled large “scam centres” in Southeast Asia, freeing trafficked workers and seizing digital evidence tied to thousands of victims.

The IC3 shares intelligence with these partners, helping trace transnational money flows and identify organized networks, though results remain uneven. As CyberScoop reports, these raids are often short-lived victories — the centres reappear under new names within weeks.

Despite the scale of enforcement, reporting and prosecution remain the weakest links. Many victims never file complaints due to shame or fear of exposure, particularly in sextortion cases. Those who do face complex hurdles: cross-border jurisdiction issues, weak evidence trails, and the opacity of cryptocurrency transactions, which make recovery and conviction rare. The IC3 notes that less than a fraction of reported global losses are ever reclaimed.

In India, authorities rely on a patchwork of existing laws — notably the Information Technology Act (Sections 66E, 67, 67A) and Indian Penal Code provisions on cheating, impersonation, and obscenity. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and NCRB data show rising caseloads but limited convictions, underscoring enforcement strain.

Platforms are under increasing scrutiny too. Matrimonial and dating sites now advertise stronger verification tools, AI-driven monitoring, and hotlines. Yet standards vary widely. As Shaadi Buzz reports, user lawsuits and complaints are pressuring companies to act faster and prove accountability.

Ultimately, while law enforcement coordination is improving, legal recourse still lags behind the speed and sophistication of digital deception — leaving prevention and awareness as the most reliable first line of defense.

Prevention: Solid, Practical Measures

Personal Steps — Protect Yourself Early

• Insist on a live video call within days of chatting. Scammers often avoid real-time interaction.

  
  

• Reverse-image search their photos using Google or TinEye — stolen or AI-generated pictures are common giveaways.

  
  

• Spot the red flags: no in-person meeting, endless excuses for no video call, sudden “emergencies” requiring money, inconsistent backstories, or reluctance to connect on verified channels.

  
  

• Never send money, gift cards, crypto, or bank details to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter how urgent or emotional the story sounds.

  
  

• If you’ve shared intimate images: don’t panic. Take screenshots, record timestamps, and report to cybercrime portals. Do not pay or negotiate with extortionists — it rarely ends the abuse. Seek legal and psychological support immediately.

  
  

• Secure your digital life: freeze accounts, reset passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and notify your bank and the platform involved. File a complaint with your local cybercrime cell or at cybercrime.gov.in.

  
  
  
  

Platform & Policy Improvements

Matrimonial and dating platforms must go beyond disclaimers. They should implement mandatory ID verification, real-time scam detection, and clearer redress systems. Shaadi Buzz notes that some sites have launched “verified” badges, but response times and user education still lag. Transparency reports and escrow-style verification for matrimonial fees could deter fraud.

Community & Law Enforcement Roles

Authorities should fund victim-support hotlines, coordinate international task forces, and strengthen anti–money laundering (AML) controls on crypto flows. Public awareness campaigns — especially in regional languages — can normalize reporting and reduce stigma.

If You Were Scammed — 6-Step Action Box

1. Stop contact immediately.

   
   

2. Save chats, screenshots, and transaction proof.

   
   

3. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or to local police.

   
   

4. Notify your bank and freeze accounts.

   
   

5. Change passwords, enable 2FA.

   
   

6. Reach out for support: mental-health helplines, family, and trusted friends.

   
   
   
   

Conclusion

Victims are not at fault — these scams exploit trust, not weakness. Protecting yourself means verifying identities, never sending money, and reporting fast. Platforms, policymakers, and communities must treat romance and matrimonial scams as both a public-safety and mental-health issue.

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