New Delhi: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a nationwide alert regarding a significant increase in online booking frauds, particularly those targeting religious pilgrims and unsuspecting tourists.
These cyber frauds are being carried out through convincing yet fraudulent websites, social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and even sponsored advertisements on prominent platforms like Google and Facebook.
“The I4C has warned the public about online booking scams, especially those aimed at religious pilgrims and tourists throughout India. These schemes are executed via fake websites, deceptive social media pages, posts on Facebook, and paid ads on search engines like Google,” the Ministry of Home Affairs stated in a release.
According to I4C, these scams often entice victims with offers for helicopter bookings to Kedarnath and the Char Dham yatra, accommodations in guest houses and hotels, online cab or taxi services, and religious holiday packages. Although the websites and social media profiles seem legitimate, individuals who make payments frequently find that they receive no confirmation or service and are unable to contact the service providers afterward.
To safeguard citizens, I4C urges the public to stay vigilant by verifying the authenticity of websites before making payments. They should be cautious about clicking on sponsored or unfamiliar links found on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp, and should use only official government websites or trusted travel agencies for bookings. In cases of fraud, individuals can report suspicious sites via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling 1930.
The I4C recommends that helicopter bookings for Kedarnath be made through the official IRCTC portal: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in, and guest house reservations for Somnath Temple can be done at https://somnath.org.
To combat this issue, I4C is implementing a multi-faceted strategy that includes scam signal exchanges, where they regularly share information about scams with intermediaries like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook to flag and remove suspicious content. They are also focusing on identifying cybercrime hotspots and working with state and Union Territory police for local enforcement action, as well as engaging in proactive cyber patrolling to detect and take down fraudulent websites, advertisements, and impersonating social media accounts.
Additionally, I4C is planning to enhance the reporting process on its cybercrime portal to facilitate the quick verification and reporting of dubious websites. This initiative serves as a timely reminder for everyone to remain cautious while navigating online, especially when planning travel to spiritual or tourist destinations.