More families now search for marriage proposals online, and fraudsters know it. Fake profiles, false promises of “settled abroad” partners and requests for money are reported every week in Pakistan, India, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A little awareness can protect your family from financial loss and emotional harm.
Quick facts
- Genuine families never ask for money, gifts or fees to arrange a match.
- Be very careful with profiles that promise a partner in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UK or Canada along with a visa or job.
- Never share private photos, CNIC or Aadhaar copies, or passport details with strangers.
- Report fraud to the cybercrime authority in your country.
Common types of marriage scams
- The fake overseas groom or bride: a person claims to be a doctor or engineer in Dubai or the UK, builds trust quickly, then asks for money for a “customs fee”, “medical emergency” or “visa processing”.
- Fake marriage bureaus: pages or agents that charge registration fees and send photos of people who do not exist or never agreed to be shown.
- Visa and job packages: offers of marriage combined with a job abroad, which can lead to human trafficking.
- Photo misuse and blackmail: scammers save pictures or video calls and later threaten to share them unless paid.
- Stolen photos: real pictures of women taken from social media and used on fake profiles without their knowledge.
Red flags to watch for
- The person refuses to meet in person or on a proper video call with family present.
- They are in a hurry to marry or to move the chat to a private app.
- Stories keep changing about their job, family or location.
- They ask for money, gold, mobile balance or bank details for any reason.
- Their photos appear elsewhere online under a different name. A reverse image search can reveal this.
How to stay safe
- Involve trusted family members from the first conversation.
- Meet in a public place or at home with elders present.
- Verify identity, job and family through people you trust, not through documents sent on WhatsApp.
- Keep photos and personal details private until trust is established in person.
- Never send money. If someone asks, stop the conversation.
Where to report
- Pakistan: the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (formerly the FIA Cyber Crime Wing).
- India: the national cybercrime portal or the 1930 cybercrime helpline.
- UAE: the police eCrime reporting service or the Aman service.
- Saudi Arabia: the Kollona Amn app or the local police.
Save screenshots, phone numbers and payment receipts before blocking the scammer; they help the investigation.
A note about photos
Respect privacy. Never forward photos of girls or boys to groups or post them online for proposals without their clear permission. Pictures shared carelessly are one of the main sources of fake profiles.
Stay informed with our guides to marriage in Pakistan, India, Dubai and the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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