Over two decades, online matrimonial sites have gained popularity in India where most marriages are still arranged by parents. The whole traditional matchmaking process changed and was set aside when the wave of online matrimony's came into existence. Online matrimony sites are the ideal mix of Indian traditional values and latest technology for Indian bachelors to explore and find a perfect match for a lifetime. This boosted the demand for cyber services, like Matrimony.com Ltd., Jeevansathi.com and Shaadi.com, which operate searchable databases of marriage material. But, matrimonial sites are not completely safe. If you do not take certain precautions, there are chances that you may end up in regret. There has been a rise in the number of people who are cheated through matrimonial sites.

The present scenario

Matrimonial sites come under 'intermediaries' within IT Act 2000. They are responsible for the frauds that are perpetrated through their sites. Matrimonial sites. But these websites has not implied any stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures in place and hence readily accept documents/facts provided by fake profiles, which result in fraud being committed. With the increase in frauds through matrimonial sites, Cyber Law Due Diligence becomes a very important way to put an end to the use of matrimonial and dating sites as means of deception and fraud.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the Cyber Law of India that mandates observance of Cyber Law Due Diligence and Internet Intermediary Obligations in India. Cyber Law Due Diligence means taking Proper and Reasonable Care and Caution while dealing with Online/Technological Transactions and Activities.

Modus operandi of online matrimonial frauds

• With the minimum KYC procedures to register in online matrimonial websites the fraudster, initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most of the cases the person poses to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meeting difficult.
• Later they look for gullible profiles to fall in their trick. In most cases the targets are widows or divorced while some are elderly women looking for life partners. Also they look for targets who are economically sound.
• Later, phone numbers, email addresses are shared to increase personal communication and gain trust. once the communication is established the fraudsters delete the profiles in the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails or phone messengers.
• After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold or inherited wealth.All this money is asked as online transfer and the person never meets the victim. 
• Once they receives the money they never respond to the victim and makes it difficult to trace.

How to save yourself from online matrimony fraud?

1. Explore the various available online matrimonial websites

Do a good Google search about the available online matrimonial platforms. check for reviews from registered users and find a suitable one. Also, Most matrimonial websites adds a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, you can take go forward with the person without thinking much.

Check out how genuine the website is, before you register. Make sure the site has good reviews from registered members.

2. Do a profile check

While you rely on online ways to find your life partner it is extremely important that you take this responsibility and do a thorough profile check. Check each and every detail carefully. Do a proper check on current and permanent address, their education and work place etc.. At any point you think there is a mismatch, feel free to question the other person.

Once you decide to go ahead, find out whether details given about the individual's qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a latter stage.

Verify details mentioned in the profile you are interested, and do a profile check in social media platforms for further information about the person. If you do not find details on any social media, it is a red flag

3. Slow and steady wins the race

Marriage is a lifetime decision and you cannot take a chance here. life is not a race, ensure you take things slow. If you feel the other person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be stern to take a back step.

Do not share any personal or revealing photographs or videos

4. Never indulge in money business

No genuine person would ask you to lend money at a early stage of a relationship. It is better to get into any financial transactions unless you are double sure.

• If the person demands money or property citing various reasons , report to the site

5. Meet personally before you take a step forward

If after chatting online and over the phone for a while, if you feel comfortable enough to meet them, go for it. Even if you have your trust in them, set up a meeting at a restaurant or coffee shop along with your family member or close friends.

Be Alert to the Red flags that can help you identify Online Matrimonial Fraudsters:

• Are not willing to show their face, reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo may not theirs, reluctant to meet in persons
• Ask for money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount
• May not have social profile or have few friends on social media
• Hesitate to share family/ workplace details
• Express "love" too quickly even before fully understanding each other
• The profile looks too good to be true for that person to express interest to you
• They call from multiple numbers. They usually don't give a number to call back. Even if they give a number, they don't pick up when you call. Later, they call you back from a new number
• Sound inconsistent or confusing when you ask for personal details
• Are in a mad rush for early marriage, without a valid reason
• Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting in touch with you
• Ask for email user name/ password or credit card/ bank account details
• Come up with false stories to gain sympathy

Let's see a few cases of online matrimonial frauds that were reported

Case 1:A 40-year-old woman was duped of Rs74 lakh  through online matrimonial fraud where the fraudster sent her a request on a popular Indian matrimonial site posing as a UK national of Indian origin. After proposing to marry her, he said he would be coming to Mumbai to meet her. However, she got a call from the fraudster, who told her that he was stuck at the Delhi Airport. A woman then came on phone and posed as a customs official and said that they have detained him for carrying excess US dollars. The woman demanded money for his bail. The victim did not realise that she is being conned and ended up paying Rs74 lakh. The man then cut off all communication with her, after which she realised that she had been duped. A case has been registered and an FIR has been registered in this regard.

Case 2: Woman creates fake profile on matrimonial site, cheats Mumbai man of Rs23 lakh

A senior corporate professional was allegedly duped of ₹23.44 lakh by a woman he met through a matrimonial website on the pretext of paying for her father's medical treatment.

The 31-year-old complainant came across the woman's profile last year and sent her a request. She shared her mobile phone number and the two started texting and eventually calling each other. The complainant had asked the woman to meet him at least once, but she kept refusing to do so. According to the police, the complainant and woman agreed to meet each other on her birthday and she made him buy an iPhone. However, on her birthday, the woman cancelled the meeting, saying her father had been admitted to hospital. The woman got her mother, sister and father to request the complainant on the phone, which convinced him to send money online.

Citing her father's treatment, the woman took a total of ₹23.44 lakh, which includes the cost of the iPhone, through multiple transactions. While the complainant insisted on meeting the woman, the woman kept refusing initially later when the man threatened to file a complaint.she met him and to his surprise she was not as good-looking as shown in the online profile picture. The woman confessed for uploading fake photos as she wanted to lure someone who could pay for her father's treatment.

Case 3: AHyderabad based woman was cheated of Rs 14 Lakh by a Delhi-based businessman, whom she met on a Matrimonial site. She received a message from a person who introduced himself as a UK-born doctor of Indian origin. He expressed his intent on marrying her and they both started communicating with each other.

After some days, the accused told the victim that he was planning to visit India along with his sister and Nephew, and he requested her to pay for the visas. As the woman was not able to collect enough money, the accused told her he would send 1 Million UK pounds through an agent. After a few days, the agent called her and said that a container of foreign currency had arrived in India, but was stuck in customs.

To release the container, the woman was asked to pay a lot of money under the name of customs clearance tax at Delhi airport, handling charges, airfare from Delhi to Hyderabad, anti-drug/terrorism clearance, customs clearance yellow tag and money laundering clearance charges. The fraudsters even sent photographs of British currency bundles to make the victim believe him. She paid the money and fell a victim to online matrimonial fraud.

Finding a life partner is not easy. It might take time to meet the one you are waiting for. But, do not let yourself in any kind of pit just because things are not going right. The key to finding love and happiness online is to'Stay alert'.