Despite many warnings and guidelines from the Cyber Crime experts, citizens get caught in the scams and are losing their hard-earned money.
According to the recent online matrimony frauds cases registered with the police and on social medial, fraudsters create fake profiles on matrimonial websites posing as professionals from different field of technologies, settled in India and foreign countries and target women, including those who are looking for a marriage especially for second marriage.
How to identify fraudsters
- They are not ready to show their face hesitant to come on video chat.
- Unwilling to meet in person for a possible communication.
- Most of the fraudsters create false profiles and target opposite sexes. So be careful.
- They express ‘love’ quickly even before the completely understanding each other.
- Sound contradictory or confusing when asked for his or her personal details.
- Anyone in a mad hurry for early marriage without stating an appropriate reason.
- Starts asking questions about your properties and income and starts demanding money.
After posting an interesting online matrimony profile on any famous matrimonial site posing as a prospective bridegroom, fraudsters befriend women. They use voice-changing apps to pose as the parents and guardians of the groom when talking to the women they are trying to scam. Once they gain the trust, the fraudsters ask women to transfer money into their bank accounts citing emergencies.
They disappear without a trace as soon the money is credited to their respective accounts and this approach continues to loot the next victim. There are an equal number of cases where the groom is duped as well.
They set up a trust and get close to the women all through emails, online chats, or at times by even through phone calls. They then propose marriage and plot a story wherein they say gifts and foreign currency they were getting into the country were stopped at the airport by customs officials and ask for money to clear the necessary procedures. Sometimes, they even say some of their blood relative has fallen sick and is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and they need some urgent money, which will be returned soon. Believing them, the women fall for the lure and transfers the money to the fraudsters’ bank account through online.
How to Protect yourself
Constantly look for verified profile matches
Many matrimonial websites have verified profiles that have been thoroughly checked by verification experts. Ideally, you can progress conversation forward with a person having a verified symbol. Marriage is a lifetime decision. If you feel the other person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be firm to take a back step.
Comprehensive profile check
The profile you like on online matrimony sites could turn out to be your better half. Hence, you must do a comprehensive profile check. Have a look at where they stay, their educational skills, parents, and place of work and see if the story the online matches say by a background check. Visit their place of work. Do a thorough personal reference check. You should also look at their own social media profiles.
Never disclose your account information
Keep your username and password safe and do not share those with anyone. For your safety, change the password regularly. To access a matrimony website, always type the correct URL in your browser window. Do not click on unsafe short links sent via SMS or WhatsApp.
Never transfer money to anybody
Do not transfer funds to prospective bridegroom or bride under any circumstance. The moment someone asks you for money citing some reason or the other, you should become cautious and it is recommended that you avoid any further calls from them.
Stay secure while meeting in person
While meeting a person in person, it is recommended that you meet in public places. Always keep your family informed about your meetings with prospects.
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