Marriage fraud is an increasing phenomenon that occurs when two individuals enters into union with the sole purpose of political, economical or personal gain in obtaining an advantage that would not have been obtained had the union not been fulfilled.

As example, marriage fraud is committed when two people marry in order to ensure that one party obtains citizenship in a specific country based on the marriage. The marriage will be dissolved upon approval of citizenship.

Marriage fraud can also be committed without the knowledge of one of the parties involved in the union. Corrupt officials may assist offenders in registering marriages for other offenders, which will enable them to obtain their goals. In these instances the single party’s information will be used without his or her knowledge or permission.

Marriage fraud may also be committed in order to realize further fraudulent activities. As example, fraudsters may register a fraudulent marriage, after which they will report the spouse as diseased in order to fraudulently claim life insurance.

The majority of marriage fraud from around the world, however, involves foreign nationals attempting to gain citizenship and may commit this crime by means of a marriage arrangement with an individual or simply a fraudulent marriage registration without the knowledge of the other party.

Consequences of this offence

Marriage fraud may hold serious consequences to those involved. An individuals whose information was fraudulently used in order to register a marriage, may be held liable for debts incurred by the offender.

A current fraudulent registered marriage may cause difficulties for an individual who legitimately married and need to register the new marriage.

Rectifying these fraudulent registered marriages often involve long periods of investigation time and a lot of effort on behalf of the victim.

Protecting oneself against this offence

Consumers can conduct regular checks with the relevant authorities in determining their marital status. Any irregularities should be reported with immediate effect.