How to Protect Yourself from Scams on Matrimonial Sites?

According to a dating services app study, around 6 lakh people marry on matrimonial platforms yearly. Approximately 20% of couples worldwide now connect using online platforms. Matrimony sites have become the go-to choice for working professionals in this digital age. While it's true that matrimonial sites help you discover your life partner, you may end up being a victim of scams on these platforms. Hundreds of cases are filed on matrimony scams every year, and the number is increasing multifold. Understanding how you may fall prey to scams by both matrimonial sites and scammers is important. Not all matrimonial apps engage in fraudulent practices, but it is important to be aware of them for a secure life partner search online.

Unethical practices by matrimonial sites

The deceptive practices on matrimony sites are prevalent these days. Users are frequently fooled by fake profiles, ranging from money fraud to more complex fraud. Fraud is often committed against users who are less aware of online scams and desperate to find a match.

• Exorbitant Membership Plans: Many matrimonial sites charge heavy fees in the name of premium plans, elite plans, and personal matchmaking services, which vary from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 or higher. You must evaluate different features in membership plans and start with a basic one. Or else, you can be charged highly and won't be able to get the service either.
• Sharing your information on other sites: You create a profile on X matrimony site, but you keep getting calls from Y and Z matrimonial sites. This happens when sites share profile data with third parties or their sister websites.
• Persistent Calls from Customer Care: Some of these sites keep making calls, offering discounts and matching profiles to lure you into a premium membership plan. However, these sites often don’t maintain the same level of customer service or sometimes need to catch up on customer calls once a premium membership is taken.
• Creating Fake Profiles: Some matrimonial sites create fake profiles. The less reputable sites sell customer data, including phone numbers and email addresses of the members, to third parties. So, you need to check if the site has a reputation and a proper review of the people.
• Unverified Profiles: Some matrimonial sites boast verified profiles but never verify them. Be prepared to get unfavourable or no responses when you contact such unverified profiles. It is advisable to check the profiles properly, which is verified.

Scams by registered profiles

Even a legitimate-looking profile can engage in scams. Scammers often fake a profile that looks genuine. Scams can take many forms, ranging from emotional manipulation to financial blackmail. Below are some scams that people should be aware of while using matrimony sites.

• Profiles with fake information: Not all information provided by these profiles is genuine. It's crucial to cross-verify the information thoroughly before contacting the profile or sharing your details with them. You are advised to look for options to opt out of sharing information during registration.
• Money Scams: Profiles start nicely but later start with a story. When a matrimonial profile requests you for money for any reason, you should see it as a red flag. Consider adding only confined information on the site to avoid any money-related scams.
• Blackmailing: Profiles start a relationship with you to blackmail you later with your photos or any information about you. You should not provide contact information or photos to register for the matrimony sites. Refrain from sharing your primary contact details so you can not continue the number.
• Dating Purpose: Profiles start the relationship to date you rather than a marital relationship. It's wise to wait to commit to a date before sharing the information with your parents. As fraud cases are prevalent, it is necessary to be sure of the person before discussing it with parents.
• Job Opportunity: Scammers pretend to be entrepreneurs or businessmen in this case. They use manipulative techniques to trap people in their web. Whenever a business deal or project is completed, they may ask the victim for a loan or investment in exchange for sharing the profits.

How to protect from matrimonial scams?

If you want to save yourself from any fraudulent cases related to matrimonial sites or be at least aware of them before using them, read on. These points should be remembered every time you use the matrimonial site, so you avoid falling into the trap.

• Free membership plans: Nowadays, all matrimonial sites provide a free membership plan. A free membership plan allows you to browse profiles but may not allow you to contact them. It may be wise to monitor the quality of profiles available on a matrimonial site in a free plan before converting to a paid plan.
• Don't rush to reach out to a profile: Give yourself enough time to consider carefully before reaching out to a matching profile. Refrain from getting tempted by a discount on a premium plan or the artificial urgency created by customer care to contact matching profiles. Review available matches, check compatibility, and talk to your family before contacting the profile. Always consider choosing a premium plan with less validity to save on membership fees.
• Identifying fake profiles: There are different ways profiles can update wrong information in their biodata. You must verify at least a profile's marital status, job status, and education details through social media handles or reliable sources before even considering contacting further. A person may look altogether different when you meet them in person. Before contacting the profiles, you may request additional information, such as photos and job details documents.
• Protecting personal information: Matrimonial sites provide various options to hide your personal information, such as photos, phone numbers, and other biodata. It's advised to use such privacy options to protect from scammers. Reveal as little information as possible to the matching profiles online before you meet them in person. Avoid video chats with profiles and sharing personal photos to avoid unnecessary issues later.

While not all matrimonial sites engage in these fraudulent practices, some help customers discover their potential matches in a secure environment. Matchfinder is one such site that avoids such practices and has helped hundreds of registered marriage seekers find suitable matches with utmost transparency since 2013.

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