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Finding a partner through a matrimonial platform has long been built on trust. However, that trust is increasingly being exploited by cybercriminals using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake identities that are difficult to detect.
Cybersecurity experts say fraudsters are no longer relying on stolen photographs or fabricated profiles alone. AI tools now enable them to generate realistic faces, manipulate voice and video interactions, forge identity documents and maintain natural conversations for weeks, making fake profiles appear authentic.
Victims often realise they have been deceived only after being persuaded to transfer money or invest in fraudulent schemes. According to identity verification firm Bureau, India ranks third globally for new romance scam profiles, accounting for 12% of such profiles worldwide.
Investigations by police in different states suggest that matrimonial platforms are increasingly being used to identify financially stable targets before scammers introduce fake investment opportunities or requests for financial assistance.
Unlike traditional online fraud, these scams are rarely rushed. Fraudsters invest time in building relationships, speaking regularly, sharing stories about work and family, and creating an emotional connection before discussing money. By the time an investment opportunity or emergency request surfaces, many victims have already lowered their guard.
Experts say generative AI has significantly reduced the effort required to run such operations. A single network can create multiple believable identities, personalise conversations and even simulate video interactions, allowing scammers to target several people simultaneously.
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Cybersecurity experts have found that the increasing use of artificial identities has questioned the validity of traditional verification methods. Relying on photos, identity documents, and even video calls to validate one's identity is not enough.
Individuals are advised to independently verify information, involve their family members before making any decision, and proceed with caution if the other party quickly moves the discussion to a private chat application or talks about investments.
Financial requests or demands of gifts and monetary assistance are strong indicators of fraud. It has been further suggested that the use of artificial intelligence by matrimonial sites to ensure identity verification using liveness detection, behavioral analytics, and device intelligence would help in curbing the problem.
