NRI Romance Deepfake Courtship Scam — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated May 30, 2026

Severity: HIGH | View Full Scam Details

Beware the NRI Romance Deepfake Courtship Scam in India 2026: How Cybercriminals Use AI to Trick You

The NRI Romance Deepfake Courtship Scam is an emerging cybercrime targeting Indian online daters, using AI-powered fake profiles and convincing voice calls to steal money via UPI and WhatsApp.

What Is the NRI Romance Deepfake Courtship Scam?

This scam primarily targets individuals in India seeking relationships with NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) or foreigners through social media and dating apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder. Fraudsters create attractive fake profiles using stolen photos, enhanced with deepfake AI technology that can generate realistic video, images, and even voice messages. These “courtship” profiles appear exceedingly genuine and often claim to be successful professionals living abroad.

The fraudsters build trust over weeks or months by engaging victims in emotional conversations and sometimes even video calls created with deepfake tools. Victims believing they are in a genuine relationship share financial details or send money via UPI, mobile wallets, or bank transfers. In cases reported to the police, losses often run from tens of thousands to lakhs of Indian Rupees.

While this scheme is not new, its use of advanced AI deepfake technology to impersonate romantic partners represents a worrying upgrade in sophistication. The Indian government, through CERT-In and the I4C cybercrime portal, has issued general advisories warning people against sharing personal data and rushing money transfers with unknown online contacts. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is also monitoring payment fraud related to UPI and mobile banking apps.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Initial Contact: The scammer creates a fake NRI profile on a dating site or social media platform with AI-enhanced photos and data, often posing as a well-settled foreign professional.

2. Building Rapport: The scammer initiates casual chats and gradually moves to private WhatsApp or messaging platforms, sending AI-generated voice clips or deepfake video calls to strengthen the illusion of a real person.

3. Emotional Manipulation: Over days or weeks, the scammer discusses plans for meeting or marriage, touching on emotional topics to gain victim trust and lower their guard.

4. Financial Requests Begin: Under various pretexts — medical emergencies, visa fees, business investments, or travel expenses — the scammer asks the victim to send money urgently, typically via UPI apps or mobile wallets.

5. Urgent Payment Pressure: The scammer increases pressure on victims to pay quickly, often using threats of losing the “relationship” or claiming a time-sensitive crisis.

6. Monetary Loss: Victims transfer money, believing it is a genuine need. Once money is sent, the scammer frequently disappears or fabricates more stories to extract additional amounts.

7. Continued Targeting: In some cases, victims are coaxed to share Aadhaar or bank OTPs, risking identity theft and unauthorized transactions.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• The person insists on moving the conversation quickly to WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Their profile photos or videos look professionally done but cannot be verified through reverse image search.
• They avoid in-person or live video meetings without excuses.
• Requests for money come early in the relationship or without clear documentation.
• Pressure tactics demanding immediate payment through UPI or mobile wallets.
• Claims of urgent visa, travel, or medical emergencies needing financial help.
• Refusal to share official contact details or proof of employment abroad.

What Happens to Victims

Victims of this scam can suffer substantial financial losses. Once money is sent through UPI transactions (like to IDs us**@bank), reversing the payment is often impossible due to UPI’s “final settlement” rule — especially if the victim authorized the payment themselves. In some cases, victims also unwittingly share personal details leading to Aadhaar misuse, SIM swap attacks, or bank frauds.

Emotionally, victims feel betrayed and traumatized, facing anxiety and social stigma. Many hesitate to report the fraud due to fear of embarrassment. This scam also highlights weakness in detecting AI-generated content, making victims more vulnerable.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

The RBI has released general guidelines cautioning users against sharing OTPs, PINs, or confidential banking credentials, and advises ensuring UPI transactions are made only to trusted contacts. CERT-In’s advisories highlight the dangers posed by fake profiles and urge users to verify all new digital relationships carefully.

For reporting cyber fraud, the Government of India runs the Integrated Cyber Crime Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and a dedicated helpline at 1930, which assists victims of online financial frauds. Victims are encouraged to file complaints promptly as early reporting aids investigation and recovery.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Always verify the identity of someone claiming to be an NRI or foreigner through independent means before progressing with personal conversations.
2. Do a reverse image search to check if photos are duplicated from other sources online.
3. Never share OTPs, PINs, Aadhaar details, or bank credentials over chat or calls.
4. Avoid sending money to someone you haven’t met in-person, no matter how convincing the story.
5. Use UPI transaction alerts and monitor your bank account tightly for unfamiliar debits.
6. Be skeptical of urgent financial requests, especially when pressure tactics are used.
7. Report suspicious profiles and conversations to dating platforms and cybercrime authorities.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

• Immediately block the suspect on all platforms and stop all communication.
• Inform your bank or UPI provider about the fraudulent transaction; request if any payment reversal is possible.
• Change your banking app passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts.
• File a complaint on the cybercrime.gov.in portal or approach your local police cybercrime cell.
• Call the 1930 cybercrime helpline for assistance and guidance on next steps.
• Keep a record of all chat screenshots, transaction IDs, and communications with the scammer for evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I get my money back if I sent it via UPI to a scammer?
A: UPI payments are generally final and cannot be reversed if authorized by the sender. However, reporting the fraud immediately to your bank and filing a police complaint may increase chances of recovery.

Q: How can I tell if a video call or voice message is deepfake?
A: Deepfake audio/video may have slight unnatural movements, mismatched lip sync, or inconsistent lighting. However, these can be very hard to detect. Always verify identities through multiple trusted means rather than relying solely on calls.

Q: What platforms are scammers using to find victims?
A: Common platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, and WhatsApp, where they create fake NRI or foreigner profiles. They quickly move conversations to private messaging apps to avoid platform detection.

Check suspicious messages, calls, or profiles on BharatSecure.app and report fraud immediately via the 1930 helpline to protect yourself and others.

Disclaimer: This article describes a pattern of fraud reported in public sources for public-safety awareness. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. To request correction or removal of any content, write to hello@bharatsecure.app.