The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a public alert regarding online booking scams that primarily target religious pilgrims and tourists across India. These fraudulent activities are being carried out through fake websites, deceptive social media profiles, and misleading advertisements on search engines like Google.
The scams typically involve the creation of counterfeit websites and social media accounts that appear professional and legitimate. These platforms offer various services such as:
- Helicopter bookings for Kedarnath and Chaar Dhaam Yatra
- Guest house and hotel reservations for pilgrims
- Online cab/taxi service bookings
- Holiday packages and religious tour arrangements
Victims, often unaware of the fraudulent nature of these platforms, make payments for services like helicopter bookings or travel packages. However, they soon realise they have been duped when no confirmation is received, and the provided contact numbers become unreachable.
In response, the I4C has advised the public to exercise extreme caution and take necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to such scams:
- Always verify the authenticity of websites before making any payments.
- Be cautious of “sponsored” or unknown links on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp.
- Cross-check bookings through official government portals or trusted travel agencies.
- In case of any fraud, report suspicious websites immediately via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in or call the helpline at 1930.
To assist with genuine bookings, I4C has recommended the following official sources for services:
- Helicopter bookings for Kedarnath can be done via the official IRCTC site: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in
- The official Somnath Trust website is https://somnath.org, where guest house bookings can also be made.
To combat the increasing number of such scams, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has adopted a multi-pronged strategy:
- Scam Signal Exchange: The I4C regularly exchanges scam signals with IT intermediaries such as Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook to proactively detect and block fraudulent websites.
- Enforcement: Cybercrime hotspots are being identified, and State/UTs are being sensitised to prevent the origination of such crimes.
- Cyber Patrolling: Fake websites, fraudulent advertisements, and impersonating social media accounts are being periodically disabled to protect the public.
- Reporting Feature: The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal now features an easy-to-use suspect checking and reporting system, enabling hassle-free reporting of such incidents.
The I4C continues its efforts to protect citizens and ensure safe online transactions for both pilgrims and tourists.
