How to Stay Safe on Azwaaj

Real advice for real people. No fluff, just practical safety tips.

Money Scams (The Big One)

This is the most common scam on every matrimony site, and it preys on people's kindness. Here's how it works:

The Setup: Someone matches with you, seems perfect, and builds trust over weeks or months. Then comes the emergency: "My mother is sick and I need $500 for surgery." "My business deal fell through and I'm stuck." "I need money for a visa to come visit you."

The Reality: A person genuinely seeking marriage will never ask you for money. Not $10, not $100, not $10,000. If they ask for financial help, they're not interested in you—they're interested in your bank account.

Catfishing (Fake Profiles)

A catfish is someone who uses fake photos and a fake identity. They might be using a supermodel's pictures, or photos stolen from someone else's social media.

How to Spot a Catfish:

• They refuse video calls. "My camera is broken." "I'm in a secure area." "I'm shy." Excuses. A real person will video call you.
• Their photos look too perfect. Professional shots, model-quality images, or photos that look like stock images.
• Their story doesn't add up. They say they're a doctor in Dubai, but their English is broken and they don't know basic medical terms.
• They avoid meeting in person. Even after months of talking, they always have a reason they can't meet.

Photo Safety & Privacy

Your photos are personal. Once you send them, you lose control. Here's how to protect yourself:

Never Send Compromising Photos: Don't send intimate, revealing, or embarrassing photos to anyone. Ever. Even if you trust them. These can be used for blackmail (called "sextortion"). A person with honorable intentions will respect your boundaries.

Use Azwaaj's Privacy Controls: Your photos are blurred by default on Azwaaj. You choose who gets to see them clearly. You can also hide your profile from specific cities or companies. Check your Privacy Settings to see what options you have.

Watermark Your Photos: If you're sending photos outside Azwaaj (which we don't recommend), add a watermark with your name or the date. This makes it harder for someone to use them without permission.

First Meetings in Person

When you've talked to someone for a while and decide to meet, be smart about it:

• Meet in public. A coffee shop, restaurant, or mall. Never at their home, your home, or a private location for the first meeting.
• Arrange your own transportation. Don't let them pick you up. Drive yourself or take a taxi/Uber.
• Tell someone where you're going. Share your location with a friend or family member. Tell them when you expect to be back.
• Keep it short. First meetings should be 1-2 hours max. Coffee or lunch. Not a full-day event.
• Stay sober. Don't drink alcohol on first meetings. Keep your judgment sharp.
• Video call first. Before meeting in person, have at least one video call to confirm they look like their photos.

Red Flags to Watch For

These are warning signs that someone might not be genuine:

• Love bombing. They say "I love you" or talk about marriage within days of meeting. Real relationships take time to develop.
• They want to move off-platform immediately. "Let's chat on WhatsApp/Telegram/Snapchat." They want to get you away from Azwaaj's safety monitoring.
• Their story changes. They say they're from Karachi today, Lahore tomorrow. Inconsistencies are a major red flag.
• They pressure you. "If you really loved me, you'd send money." "You're wasting my time." Pressure tactics are manipulation.
• They refuse to video call. See the catfishing section above.
• They ask for personal information. Your home address, bank details, national ID number. Don't share these until you fully trust someone.
• They try to isolate you. "Don't tell your family about us." "They won't understand." A genuine person will want to meet your family.

How to Report & Block

If someone makes you uncomfortable, violates these safety rules, or you just don't like them, you have options:

Block Them: Go to their profile and click "Block." They won't be able to message you or see your profile anymore. You can manage your Blocked List anytime.

Report Them: Click "Report" on their profile and tell us what happened. Our team investigates every report within 24 hours. If they violated our rules, we'll ban them permanently.

Contact Us Directly: If you need immediate help, email us at info@azwaaj.com. We reply within 24 hours.

What Azwaaj Does to Keep You Safe

We're not just giving you advice—we're actively protecting you:

• Manual Profile Review: Every profile is checked by a human before it goes live. We look for fake info, scam patterns, and red flags.
• Blurred Photos: Your photos are hidden by default. You control who sees them.
• No ID Required: We don't ask for your CNIC or passport upfront, which means your sensitive documents stay private.
• Block & Report: One-click tools to remove bad actors from your experience.
• 24/7 Monitoring: Our team monitors reports and removes scammers quickly.