Romance Scams in India
How romance fraud targets Indian users on matrimonial sites, Facebook, and Instagram — from dowry-related advance-fee requests to pig-butchering grooming.
Part of: Fake Online Partners
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
India's large and growing internet user population, combined with significant cultural emphasis on marriage and family, creates specific vulnerabilities for romance fraud. Scammers operating on matrimonial platforms such as Shaadi.com and BharatMatrimony, as well as Facebook and Instagram, build relationships under marriage pretexts before introducing financial demands.
International romance scammers also target Indian professionals, often posing as NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) working abroad, which carries cultural credibility and provides cover for an inability to meet in person.
How this scam works on India
On matrimonial platforms, a scammer presents an ideal match profile — often an NRI with a well-paying job — and rapidly develops the relationship toward a marriage commitment. Financial requests follow: a visa fee to visit India, a business emergency requiring a loan, or customs charges for gifts being sent. Because matrimonial conversations are expected to progress quickly toward commitment, the relationship deepens faster than on general dating platforms.
Pig-butchering variants involve a 'wrong number' contact on WhatsApp that evolves into a romantic relationship, ultimately steering the victim toward a fraudulent investment platform framed as a shared financial goal for 'our future together.' Payments are typically requested via UPI, NEFT, or crypto.
Common red flags
- Matrimonial platform match who is an NRI but cannot meet in person for an extended period
- New romantic contact who introduces financial requests early in the relationship
- Request for UPI or bank transfer to cover travel, visa, or customs fees for items never received
- Investment platform introduced as a shared savings vehicle by an online romantic partner
- Profile photos that appear on multiple platforms with different names
How to protect yourself
- Reverse-image-search matrimonial and social media profile photos before advancing any relationship
- Never send money to someone you have not met in person and verified through family or mutual contacts
- Insist on a live video call with background verification before any financial commitment
- Consult family before making financial decisions involving a new online contact
- Report suspicious matrimonial profiles to the platform and to the NCCRP at cybercrime.gov.in
How to report it
- Report to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
- File a complaint with the local police cyber cell in your district
- Alert the matrimonial platform's trust and safety team with the profile details
Frequently asked questions
How do romance scams on Indian matrimonial sites differ from typical dating-app romance scams?
Matrimonial site scams sometimes incorporate dowry-related or wedding-expense advance-fee requests specific to marriage customs, in addition to the more general emergency or investment-related asks seen on dating apps and social media. Be cautious of any prospective match who requests money for travel, ceremonies, or "processing" before you've met in person and verified their identity.
Someone from a matrimonial profile is now suggesting we invest together in crypto — is this connected to the romance angle?
Yes — this is a pig-butchering pattern, where the romantic or matrimonial relationship is built specifically to set up trust for an eventual investment pitch. Treat any shift from a personal relationship toward a joint "investment opportunity" as a red flag, and verify any proposed platform independently through SEBI before sending money.
Where do I report a romance scam that started on a matrimonial site or Instagram in India?
File a report at cybercrime.gov.in with your chat history and any transaction details, and call the 1930 Cyber Crime Helpline promptly if money has been sent, since faster reporting improves the chance of any fund freeze. Also report the fraudulent profile to the matrimonial site or platform itself so it can be removed.
Are NRI romance scammers always based outside India?
No — many 'NRI' romance scammers are based domestically and fabricate a foreign identity to explain their inability to meet in person and to add credibility. The NRI persona is chosen because it carries social prestige and provides a ready excuse for physical distance.