Are you looking for a life partner online? Be Cautious, it could be a Cyber Fraud
With advent of digital technology, online matrimonial platforms have emerged as a popular way of finding a suitable match. Matrimonial websites provide a convenient and user-friendly interface for youth and parents to search, interact and choose a suitable partner. However, unreliable websites may lead to fraud.
Go for verified matrimonial websites:
Before registering on a matrimonial website, check authenticity and reviews of the website. Talk to your friends and family to know about reliable websites. If possible, try to talk to people who might have found their life partners through online matrimonial platforms. The site must be a secure website.
Create new e-mail id for matrimonial websites Create new e-mail id for registering on matrimonial websites. Preferably, use e-mail as a source of communication and do not share your personal data namely, photo, phone number, house address, etc. on matrimonial websites.
Always do a background check of the prospective match
- Conduct an end-to-end background check of the person.
- Try to contact workplace, family, friends, relatives, neighbours or associates of a prospective match to know more about him/ her.
- Always keep your family informed Share information about the prospective match with your family.
- Your family should be aware of the information shared, if any, by you with the prospective match found on matrimonial website.
- Always meet in public place Always choose to meet the prospective match in a public place as you don’t know what kind of person he or she might be. Also, keep your family and friends informed about the meeting.
Ask enough questions
While interacting with anybody through matrimonial website, ask relevant questions to know the person better and detect any inconsistencies on his/ her part.
Do not share personal information
While chatting on matrimonial website, avoid talking to a person, if he/ she pressurizes you to reveal your personal information.
Always refrain from sharing your personal information such as numbers, email ID, address, etc. until you are completely sure and have done a thorough background check.
Never share your sensitive personal photographs
- Do not share your sensitive personal pictures while chatting with anybody you have met through matrimonial website.
- These pictures can be used by the potential fraudster to blackmail you and defraud.
- These images may be leaked on internet as well.
Never entertain any request for money
Do not transfer funds or offer financial help to the prospective match. The moment someone asks you for money citing some reason or the other, you should become cautious and avoid any further communication with him/her without background checks.
Be cautious while dealing with NRI profiles
Always be careful while dealing with ‘NRI’ profiles on matrimonial websites. Commit to marriage only after face-to-face meetings, especially the prospective match’s parents/ relatives and validating any documents related to their address and employment abroad.
How to detect fraudsters on matrimonial websites?
In case of any of the following, please be careful:
- If a person is reluctant to come on video chat or to meet in person, he/she can be a fraudster as the profile picture posted on matrimonial website may not be of his/ her.
- A fraudster may express his/ her love in just a short span of acquaintance.
- Fraudsters will usually call from multiple numbers. He/ She usually don’t give a number to call back. Even if he/ she give a number, they don’t pick up when you call. Later, he/ she calls you back from a new number.
- If a person enquires about your financial status at initial stage of interaction.
- A Fraudster may not have a social media profile or have few friends on social media.
Report on Government Cyber Crime Portal
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is an initiative of Government of India to facilitate victims/complainants to report all types of cybercrime complaints online.Complaints reported National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal are dealt by respective police authorities of States/ UTs based on the information provided by the complainants. If you want to report something other than Cybercrime cases or in case of an emergency please contact your local police by dialing 100.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
Visit : https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/
Read Guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs :
https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/pdf/Matrimonial%20fraud%20brochure%20final.pdf