Fake fortune-telling business becomes a ₹60,000 crore industry in India:Victims’ top query to astrology scammers, ‘When will my ex come back?’

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center has issued an alert against online astrologer scams on social media. Cyber criminals pose as fake certified astrologers to trap people, build trust through free consultations and then demand money. A victim reported that after a free consultation, a demand of ₹10,000 was made, but the payment link emptied their bank account. The Cyber Crime Coordination Center said, “Distressed people get trapped while looking for quick solutions, so caution is necessary.” Lets see how big the astrology market is in India, why it is growing so rapidly, for what purpose astrology is being used, what precautions should be taken to avoid astrology-related cyber frauds, etc. Astrology market is worth more than ₹60,000 crore According to RedSeer Strategy Consultants, the astrology market in India has grown to more than ₹60,000 crore. In the digital segment alone, it is expected to grow 10 times by 2030. It is becoming popular not only in India but also in the American market. According to an Allied Market Research report, the online astrology market in the US is valued at around $3 billion. This could triple in the next five years. One of the most popular astrology apps Co-Star has 30 million registered users. According to a Pew Research Center study, about 30% of Americans consult horoscopes, tarot cards, or fortune tellers at least once a year. Astrology Being Used for Trading Astrology has been a part of Indian life. It is used in making decisions from marriage, money to baby names. But with the advent of online platforms, it has now moved beyond marriage and career to reach stock trading. Many traders now check planetary positions along with balance sheets. 43-year-old commodity trader Jay Patel says that Mercury indicates trading time, Jupiter gives expansion signals, and Saturn warns of slowdown. Speaking about his most memorable trade, Patel says, “After doing all the astrological calculations, he once bought a call option in this astrological window. Based on astro, this trade gave him a 90-fold return. Patel provides services to institutional traders, most of whom are based outside India. They charge $200 for business consultation and provide access to their astro-trading dashboard for $500 per month. They advise on sectors, entry points and exit timing. Channels like CNBC Awaaz and ET Now invite astrologers for commentary on sector trends based on planetary positions. Celebrity astrologer Chirag Daruwala had predicted bullish returns in energy and defense stocks in July due to Venus-Saturn movements. 2 Major Reasons for Growth of Online Astrology 84% of AstroTalk Users are Under 35 Years of Age Platforms like AstroTalk are having 5 million paid consultations per month. Its founder Puneet Gupta says that out of 70 million users on the app, 84% are under 35 years of age. Most frequently asked question? “When will my ex come back?” The app asks for name, birth details and location on the first tap. It matches users with astrologers within seconds. As soon as the free minutes are over, a recharge message pops up. Rates go up to ₹250 per minute. The app also has a disclaimer: The website’s services are “for entertainment only”. And the most frequently asked question on the platform? “When will my ex come back?” AI is better than human astrologers in speed and accuracy Some websites are now providing consultations using AI. AstroSage AI launched an algorithm-powered platform called Bhrigoo.ai in 2018. Its founder Puneet Pandey said people will use astrology 100 times more than today in 10 years. The company says that astrology involves complex calculations and AI is better than human astrologers in speed and accuracy. It can answer 5 times more questions at the same time. Risk of online astrology scams is increasing Astrology is growing rapidly with the advent of AI tools. However, this is also increasing the risk of online astrology scams. Many people have fallen victim to these scams. Posing as fake astrologers, many people offer free consultations, listen to people’s problems and give logical explanations. Then they predict future troubles like family discord, health issues or job loss. They ask for money for rituals or astrological remedies, like advance payment in the name of prayer or worship. They send payment links or apps that are used to steal phone access or bank details. How to avoid these scams: