In Pakistan, the online rishta world has grown at a very fast pace. Between 2020 and 2025, thousands of online rishta groups appeared on social media, along with several online matchmaking apps or websites, attracting people from all age groups and backgrounds. This rise was natural, as many families wanted a faster and more modern way to find a suitable match. But with this growth came a serious wave of fake profiles, catfishing attempts, and emotional or financial scams. Many boys and girls stepped into the online rishta world with hope but faced disappointment, deception, or financial loss.
So in this changing environment, it has become essential for families, parents, and individuals to learn how to identify suspicious profiles and protect themselves from scams. This important article provides clear, practical, and easy-to-follow steps to stay safe while searching for a rishta online. By following these precautions, you can avoid emotional manipulation, financial fraud and fake profiles. Staying informed and vigilant ensures a safer and more trustworthy matchmaking experience for everyone involved.
1. Photo Red Flags — The First and Fastest Clue
Photos are usually the first thing you see in any rishta profile, and most fake identities start from here. Scammers know that a good photo can influence trust, so they often choose attractive or professional-looking images that hide the truth. Here are signs you should look for:
1. Pictures that look taken in a studio instead of normal daily life settings
2. Only one or two photographs provided, often with the same angle
3. Very filtered or edited pictures that hide the natural face
4. Photos that look borrowed from model pages or fashion profiles
5. Girls’ photos that look very glamorous while the description claims she is “simple and traditional”
In today’s digital age, it is easy to check whether a photo is stolen. Many image-search tools exist that can reveal if the picture belongs to someone else online. Even a basic search can protect you from fake identities pretending to be real individuals.
2. Unrealistic Personal Claims — The Typical Catfish Strategy
Scammers often use exaggerated stories, knowing that families will show interest faster. These stories usually sound perfect on the surface but fall apart when you verify them. Common examples include:
1. A young man claiming very high income or foreign citizenship without showing proof
2. Someone claiming to work in a top medical, engineering, or business field with unusually impressive details but not matching the required maturity level
3. A girl claiming she is tall, highly educated, from a rich family, and urgently looking for marriage without any demands
4. Age differences, such as showing 26 in written profile but actually being 33 or above in real looks.
5. Persons claiming they have no close friends, no relatives they talk to, and no one who can vouch for their character. Most genuine people have at least one friend, cousin, neighbor, or colleague who knows them well.
In real life, genuine families in Pakistan share honest and balanced information. They openly mention real salaries, city of residence, education level and social background. When someone appears “too perfect,” it is often a sign of a made-up identity.
3. Communication Red Flags — Hidden Clues in How They Speak
The way a person communicates can reveal a lot. Scammers usually get exposed when they start talking, because their language, behavior, and hesitation give clear signals. Watch out for:
1.Avoiding video or voice calls with excuses like “camera not working” or “busy with family”
2. Writing excellent English but showing very strange or weak Urdu communication on call
3. Becoming overly emotional very quickly. Like calling you their “future partner” in the first week
4. Asking you to move chats from safe platforms to private messaging apps (Whatsapp) within minutes of interaction
5. A speaking style or accent that does not match their claimed region or city
When someone talks a lot but avoids showing their real face, it is a red flag. A genuine person has no fear of early verification because they are serious about marriage.
4. Money Requests — The Strongest and Clearest Sign of Fraud
The most harmful type of scam in the online rishta world is related to money. Scammers use emotional stories to create pressure. Some examples include:
“I need urgent money for travel or ticket bookings.”
“A family member is in the hospital; please help.”
“I sent you a gift or parcel, but it is stuck and needs a release fee.”
“Can you invest a small amount? It will double quickly.”
Money and rishta should never mix. A real rishta does not require any payment. If anyone asks for money at very early stage without family involved, the proposal becomes fake instantly.
5. Verification Checklist — Essential Safety Steps for 2025
With the increasing number of online proposals, verification has become a necessary part of the process. Follow this checklist before trusting any profile:
1. Ask for a clear CNIC front-side picture
2. Verify identity using any legal verification service
3. Do a video call within one week
4. Request a job card, degree, or work document
5. Search their name along with their city or profession online
6. Check if they have long-term social media history
7. Ask simple cultural questions about their claimed hometown
Most scammers will fail at least one of these steps.
6. Safety Levels — Which Online Spaces Are Riskier?
Different online rishta environments offer different levels of protection. In Pakistan, the general pattern is:
Moderate: Basic rishta platforms that do not require document submission like unregistered marriage bureaus or rishta aunties.
Safer: Professional matchmaking services that verify documents and involve families
No online space is 100% safe, but strong verification systems reduce the risk of fraud.
7. Extra Warning for Overseas Pakistanis
Many locals target overseas Pakistanis only to secure a spouse visa. After reaching the foreign country, they often change behavior, create conflicts, or separate soon after getting residency. Some even disappear completely. Always verify intentions, ask long-term questions about married life abroad, and involve elders to read the person’s body language during meetings. To stay protected:
1. Insist on early video calls with family present
2. Request official documents from the candidate
3. Confirm background through trusted relatives or community contacts
Many overseas families lose money due to emotional manipulation, so early verification is essential.
8. Safety Tips for Women
Women looking for proposals online often face extra danger because many scammer men pretend to be genuine suitors. These men use fake names, edited photos, and emotional lines to trap women into sharing personal pictures or private details. This makes online matchmaking risky if strong caution is not used from the start:
1. Never share personal pictures early
2. Wait for video verification before sending any image
3. Avoid sharing your phone number too soon
4. Be careful if someone becomes emotional unusually fast
Note: A sincere person respects boundaries and does not pressure for pictures or private chats.
9. Legal Help for Victims of Online Fraud
If someone goes through harassment, blackmail, or financial fraud during a rishta search, they can file a formal complaint with Pakistan’s cybercrime authorities. The current laws protect individuals from:
1. Identity misuse and fake rishta frauds
2. Financial frauds and scams
3. Emotional blackmail & harassment cases
4. Theft or misuse of personal photos & videos
Note: Screenshots, chat records and call logs are important evidence in such cases.
10. Final Golden Principles for Safe Rishta Searching in 2025
Follow these basic principles always:
1. Never share private photos with strangers
2. Never send money in the name of love or emergency
3. Involve your family early
4. Trust your instincts if something feels suspicious
5. Use platforms that follow proper verification rules
Searching for a life partner online is not wrong. Many people have found honest and loving spouses through the internet. But this process demands maturity, patience, and careful checking. One small verification step today can protect you from years of pain. May everyone find a sincere, honest, and blessed match. Ameen.
