Online booking refund scam on the rise in Coimbatore, police warn travellers

Coimbatore: The City police have warned that a new cyber fraud is spreading in the name of online booking sites, targeting people seeking refunds after cancelling reservations. In one recent case, a Malayali woman lost ₹18 lakh. Police said about 50 people in Coimbatore city alone have fallen victim to the scam in recent weeks.

According to the police, a 60-year-old Malayali woman from Kovaiputhur had booked a room through a private travel site. When she had to cancel her trip, she searched the site for a refund option and came across a 10-digit number claiming to assist. After she called, a man posing as a customer care executive asked her to apply for the refund by email and directed her to download an app.

When she installed the app and entered her account details, including the number for the refund transfer, fraudsters used the information to siphon ₹18 lakh from her account, she said in her complaint to the cybercrime police.

Police have urged the public to avoid using unauthorised or unfamiliar websites for booking tickets and rooms. They advised booking only through official sites of institutions and warned against sharing bank account details with anyone.