Green Flags and Red Flags in a Rishta Biodata

These are signs of a family that is serious and honest:

• Specific details about interests, work and family, rather than generic phrases.
• Clear statements of age, religion and marital status.
• A realistic description of what the family is looking for.
• Education and occupation that are consistent and easy to understand.
• A tone that is respectful about the other side.
• Willingness to meet and to answer questions.

These do not mean a profile is a problem, but they are worth a gentle question:

• Very little information, or large gaps in the story.
• A long list of strict conditions, such as a narrow height, income or complexion.
• Details that vary between the profile and what you are told.
• A strong focus on money or status from the first message.

These should make you stop and think, and in some cases walk away:

• Any request for money, gifts or financial information.
• Demands for dowry, or for expensive wedding arrangements.
• Pressure to decide quickly, or to keep things secret from family.
• Reluctance to meet in person or on video.
• Photos that look too polished, or appear elsewhere online.
• A profile that changes its story when questioned.

A single flag rarely settles things. Look at the whole picture, and trust your sense of how the family responds when you ask a direct question.

Ask politely about the detail that concerns you. Check it through someone who knows the family. Slow down. If you think a profile is fake or abusive, report it. On Khandaan you can report a concern, and a staff member will review it.

For more on the dangers, see our guide to matrimonial scams in Australia.

The same standards apply in reverse. A clear, honest biodata with specific details earns trust. Our guide on what to include and leave out of a matrimonial biodata shows how.