I was scammed on a matrimonial website by someone with a fake profile, what can I do?

I connected with someone on a matrimonial site who took money from me or misrepresented their identity to defraud me emotionally and financially. I have been reading conflicting things online and I would like to understand what Indian law actually says about this, which Act and Section applies, what the realistic timelines and costs are, and what I should be doing right now to protect my position. If the matter can be resolved without litigation I would prefer that route, but I want to know what my rights are before I agree to anything or sign any document.

I was scammed on a matrimonial website by someone with a fake profile, what can I do? is governed in India primarily by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Section 318, Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 66D and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Section 351 (criminal intimidation, if applicable). The short answer is set out below, followed by the practical steps most people in this situation need to take. Read it alongside the specific provisions named, because the exact relief available to you turns on the facts you can prove on paper.

This is a classic case of cheating under Section 318 BNS, aggravated where the person also used a fake photo/identity, which brings in Section 66D of the IT Act for cheating by personation using a computer resource.

If the fraud involved false promise of marriage to obtain money or sexual relations, courts have also allowed charges under BNS provisions on cheating and, in appropriate cases, Section 69 BNS (sexual intercourse by deceitful means), depending on the specific facts.

Matrimonial platforms are intermediaries under the IT Act and must act on user reports of fake profiles under the IT Rules, 2021; you should report the fraudulent profile to the platform in parallel with your police complaint.

Trace of the money is critical — get bank transaction details ready before filing at cybercrime.gov.in, since fund-freeze requests are only effective in the first few days after transfer.

In many matrimonial fraud cases, the accused operates from a different state or even abroad, so filing a Zero FIR at your nearest police station (regardless of where the offence occurred) ensures your complaint isn't delayed on jurisdiction grounds.

What to do next: 1) Stop all financial transactions and communication with the person immediately; 2) Gather chat records, transaction proof and the fake profile details; 3) File a Zero FIR at your local police station and a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in; 4) Report the fake profile to the matrimonial platform for removal.

If the other side has already issued a notice, filed a case or set a deadline, treat the matter as time-sensitive — most remedies under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Section 318 carry limitation periods, and a delay you cannot explain weakens an otherwise strong case. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in this practice area.

Disclaimer: This information is for general awareness and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes and their interpretation change, and outcomes depend on the facts of your case. Please consult a qualified advocate before acting on it.