Mahakumbh 2025: How to Spot and Avoid Scams in Online Booking and Payment Systems

In anticipation of the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, a grand spiritual assembly expected to attract a vast congregation of devotees from both India and abroad between January 13 and February 26 in Prayagraj, warnings have emerged about the increase in online fraudulent activities. Notably, these scams involve deceitful offers for accommodations such as hotels, guest houses, and tents. Highlighting the severity of the issue, a 75-year-old man from Andheri West, Mumbai, became a victim of such a scam, losing Rs 1 lakh while attempting to secure a place to stay and tickets for the event. Despite fulfilling the payment requests for both lodging and travel, he ended up with neither, left with inactive contact numbers provided by the scammers.

In response to the growing concern over these scams, the Uttar Pradesh Police initiated an awareness campaign featuring the esteemed actor Sanjay Mishra. Through a video message, Mishra guides pilgrims towards making bookings exclusively via the official Kumbh website (kumbh.gov.in), alerting them to the perils of falling for misleading offers. The Cyber Crime Police Station in Pimpri Chinchwad, along with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), have also raised alarms about fraudulent booking websites and deceitful social media accounts aiming to exploit those planning to attend the Mahakumbh.

Protecting Devotees from Cyber Scams

Cybersecurity experts, including Dhiraj Gupta of mFilterIT and Vishal Salvi from Quick Heal Technologies, have shed light on the widespread nature of digital scams, particularly during significant events such as the Mahakumbh Mela. They recommend adopting AI-driven security measures and anti-fraud apps to guard against online deceptions, including counterfeit websites and malicious applications. Salvi also stresses the importance of exercising caution when using public Wi-Fi networks and ensuring the legitimacy of online transactions to avoid falling prey to cyber fraudsters.

Amit Kumar, the CTO of Easebuzz, offers specific advice to mitigate the risks associated with digital payment frauds. He emphasizes the necessity of verifying QR codes before processing payments, steering clear of unsolicited offers, resorting only to reputable booking platforms, activating two-factor authentication for mobile payments, and promptly reporting any dubious activities. By adhering to these guidelines, pilgrims can protect themselves from becoming victims of digital scams while participating in the Mahakumbh Mela 2025.