Govt alerts pilgrims; warns of online booking scams, fake Google ads

New Delhi: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a public warning regarding a surge in online booking scams, particularly those targeting Char Dham pilgrims and travellers across the country.

According to an official statement from the Ministry, fraudsters are using fake websites, misleading social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on platforms like Google to deceive the public.

The scams involve the creation of professional-looking but fraudulent websites, social media profiles, and WhatsApp accounts offering various travel-related services. These include helicopter bookings for Kedarnath, guest house and hotel reservations for Char Dham pilgrims, cab or taxi services, holiday packages, and religious tours.

Victims left without services or contact

Unsuspecting individuals often fall prey to these schemes by making payments through the fake portals. However, they later discover they have been duped when no confirmation or services are received, and the contact numbers become unreachable.

People are being urged to stay vigilant. “Always verify the authenticity of websites before making any payments. Verify before clicking on 'sponsored' or unknown links on Google, Facebook or WhatsApp. Cross-check bookings only through official government portals or trusted travel agencies,” the statement advised.

Official booking sites and support channels

The ministry also shared legitimate sources for certain services. For helicopter bookings to Kedarnath, pilgrims should use heliyatra.irctc.co.in, while Somnath Trust’s guest house bookings can be made at somnath.org.

In the event of fraud, citizens are encouraged to report incidents via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or by calling 1930.

Ministry’s strategy to counter scams

To combat the growing threat, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre is implementing a multi-pronged strategy. This includes the regular exchange of scam signals with major IT intermediaries such as Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook for proactive detection.

Cybercrime hotspots are being identified, and states and Union territories from where these scams originate are being sensitised. Authorities are also working to disable access to fake websites, advertisements, and impersonating social media accounts.

Furthermore, the ministry is developing features on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal to make it easier for the public to check and report suspicious websites and accounts.

PTI