BharatMatrimony, one of India’s largest matrimonial platforms, is under fire after a married woman’s photo appeared on the app’s elite subscription service under a fake profile, sparking backlash and raising concerns about profile authenticity on the platform. The woman, Swati Mukund, shared her story on Instagram, labeling it as the “BharatMatrimony Scam” and warning users to exercise caution when using the platform.
In her video, Mukund states that neither she nor her husband, who appeared in the video, used any matrimonial platform to find each other. She expressed frustration at seeing her image misused in an elite service offered by BharatMatrimony, a premium subscription that reportedly offers “carefully curated” matches. The profile displayed Mukund’s photo with the name “Nithya Raja Sekar,” describing her as a 35-year-old fitness professional from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, with a B.Tech degree. The profile also featured a “Newly Joined” tag, suggesting recent activity.
Mukund questioned the platform’s screening process, asking, “How on earth are you doing it?” She urged users to be vigilant, pointing out that the platform’s claim of thorough profile verification is evidently flawed. “Clearly, it’s not working,” Mukund said, warning others to be cautious while using BharatMatrimony.
The video quickly gained traction online, with numerous users sharing similar experiences. One user commented, “I faced the same issues. They used my photos and listed me as a divorcee seeking a groom, even though I’ve never been married.” Another person alleged that a fake profile was created in her name after her father’s death, with random details about partner preferences. She claimed customer service unconvincingly told her the profile had been created by her deceased father.
One customer, who paid ₹1.5 lakh for BharatMatrimony’s elite service, called it a “biggest scam,” alleging that the platform repeatedly displayed the same profiles for an entire year without new options. Another expressed dismay at the toll this misinformation took on her and her family, stating, “I just hope people don’t fall prey to such matrimony apps.”
The widespread complaints indicate a possible pattern of identity misuse and unreliable services on BharatMatrimony, particularly in the elite segment, which charges significant fees for an ostensibly higher standard of profile curation. BharatMatrimony has not yet publicly addressed the controversy or responded to Mukund’s video and subsequent allegations.
As the criticism mounts, users are calling for greater transparency and accountability from BharatMatrimony and similar platforms. In the digital age, where online matchmaking continues to grow in popularity, these incidents serve as a reminder of the risks and the need for robust verification mechanisms to protect users’ identities.
