Looking for love on Matrimonial Sites! Watch out for the Fraudsters

On Oct 2014, I wrote a blog titled “Conmen use fake matrimonial profiles to scam prospective grooms seeking arranged marriages” warning cyber citizens on matrimonial scams. Unfortunately, since then it appears that these scams have become common and lucrative.

These scams earned between 4 lakhs to 1.2 crore rupees (6000 – 200000 USD). Victims were women in their 30’s who had posted their profiles on matrimonial portals. They were emotionally blinded and trusted the online relationship.

The scams used in reported cases in The Times of India, July 20, 2017, were custom harassment, gift clearance or urgent need of money due to a financial or medical emergency.

31 year old nurse	Conned to accept a parcel that apparently was to contain 15000 GBP ( approx. 12 lakhs)	Paid Rs 4.2 Lakhs ( 6000 USD) to a fake courier company
40 year woman	Conned to bail her suitor out of a sticky payment at the  customs	Paid 74 lakhs (11000 USD) into several accounts
Young Woman	Conned to bail out her UK based suitor as custom officials had caught him carrying a lot of pounds	Paid Rs 4.8 Lakhs (7000 USD)
35 year old woman	Conned into supporting an allegedly US based suitor out of his financial difficulties	Paid Rs 1.2 Crore  (184000 USD)
40 year old woman	Conned into bailing out her UK suitor due to a sticky payment at customs	Paid Rs 4.65 Lakhs (7000 USD)

There will be a large number of unreported scams as they involve threats of defamation using explicit photos or video’s shared during the relationship.

I would again remind cybercitizens, that conmen actively target you, use social engineering techniques to gain your trust, and know how to hide themselves on the Internet. These conmen are often difficult to trace or it is simply too expensive to do so.

My recommendation is to use common sense when in an untrusted and unverified relationship. Any request for money should sound a loud buzzer in your brain. Do not also share content of sexual nature which could later be used against you.