Matrimonial Scams in Australia: Red Flags and What to Do

The pattern is usually the same. A scammer builds a convincing profile, often with attractive photos taken from elsewhere. They move quickly to build trust, then move the conversation off the platform. Later comes a story that needs money: an emergency, a visa fee, a business problem or a gift that is “stuck at customs”.

In matrimonial settings the story may be shaped around marriage: someone overseas who wants to join you in Australia, or someone who needs help with a family emergency before the wedding. The details change, but the goal is to get you to send money or personal information.

None of these proves a profile is fake, but several together should make you cautious.

• Photos that look like a model or celebrity, or that appear elsewhere online.
• A profile with very little detail, or details that change between messages.
• A job that is hard to check, such as a doctor or engineer on an offshore rig or military posting.
• A family that cannot be contacted, or is always overseas.
• Poor grammar that does not fit the stated education or background.

Behaviour is often more telling than the profile.

• They push to move to a private chat app straight away.
• They declare strong feelings very quickly.
• They avoid video calls, or always have an excuse.
• They talk about money problems, or ask for help with a visa, a flight, a fee or a gift.
• They ask you to keep the relationship secret from your family.
• They pressure you to decide fast.

Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person, however convincing the story.

Take your time. Ask for a video call early and notice if the person avoids it. Run a reverse image search on their photos. Ask questions about their city, workplace and family that you can verify, and speak to a mutual contact where possible.

In a family-led process, the safest check is the oldest one: meet the family, in person, in a public place or at home, with a relative present. A real family can be met.

On Khandaan, members can choose an optional ID check, and profiles that pass carry a badge. It means a staff member reviewed an ID document and a selfie, and it is not a background check. Learn how verification badges work, and treat a badge as one useful signal rather than a guarantee.

Do not share your address, ID numbers, bank details or passwords. Be careful about sending copies of documents. Sharing a photo is a personal choice, but private photos can be misused, so share them only with people you trust.

If a profile asks for details that do not make sense, such as bank information to “prove” you are serious, stop the conversation.

Stop contact and do not send any more money. Keep the messages and any payment records. Then take these steps:

• Contact your bank or card provider straight away, as they may be able to stop or recall a payment.
• Report the scam to Scamwatch, run by the ACCC.
• If you have lost money or personal information online, you can also report through ReportCyber.
• If your identity has been compromised, contact IDCARE, Australia’s national identity and cyber support service.
• Report the profile to the platform where you met. On Khandaan you can report a concern, and a staff member will review it.

Scammers are skilled at building trust, and the people they target are often kind and hopeful. If you have been caught out, you are not alone, and reporting early gives you the best chance of limiting the damage and protecting others.