The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a public alert about a growing number of online booking scams targeting pilgrims and travelers.
How the Scams Work
According to the advisory, fraudsters are creating fake websites, social media pages, and even paid ads on platforms like Google to trick people. These sites look real and often claim to offer:
- Helicopter bookings for Kedarnath and Chardham Yatra
- Guest house and hotel reservations
- Online taxi or cab services
- Holiday packages and religious tours
Many people are fooled by these professional-looking portals. They make online payments, but after the money is sent, no booking confirmation is received. The contact numbers and emails provided also stop working.
What the Government Is Doing
To fight back, I4C has launched a multi-level strategy to protect the public from such cyber frauds. Travelers are urged to be cautious, verify websites, and avoid making payments on unverified platforms.erest:
Key measures being taken
- Scam Signal Exchange: Regular information exchange with IT platforms like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook is being conducted to enable proactive detection and takedown of suspicious content.
- Enforcement: Cybercrime hotspots are being mapped, and concerned State and Union Territory authorities are being sensitised for better on-ground response.
- Cyber Patrolling: Efforts are underway to identify and disable fake websites, misleading advertisements, and impersonating social media accounts that deceive the public.
- Reporting Tools: The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal now features a suspect checking and reporting mechanism to simplify the process for victims and whistle-blowers.
Book tickets only through these official websites
- Kedarnath Helicopter Bookings: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in
- Somnath Trust and Guest House Bookings: https://somnath.org
Centre advises these steps to avoid online booking fraud
Do’s
- Always verify the legitimacy of websites before making any payments.
- Use official government portals or well-known and trusted travel agencies for bookings.
- Be cautious before clicking on “sponsored” or unknown links, particularly on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp.
- Report suspicious websites and fraud cases to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 for immediate assistance.
Don’ts
- Don’t trust websites just because they appear professional or carry advertisements on popular search engines.
- Don’t make payments without receiving proper verification or confirmation of the service.
- Don’t rely on WhatsApp or social media messages for bookings unless the source is verified.
- Don’t ignore missing confirmations or unreachable contacts – report such incidents immediately.
As online scams grow more advanced, the MHA advisory urged the public to stay alert, cross-check details carefully, and rely on official sources to avoid becoming victims of cyber fraud.