MHA Warns of Rising Online Booking Scams Targeting Pilgrims, Tourists; List

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a warning on Saturday to warn the public about online booking scams targeting pilgrims and tourists in light of the rise in cybercrimes and the start of the Chardham Yatra season. The MHA's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) released the advice, which lists several frauds and provides information on how to prevent becoming a victim.

The advice claims that in order to trick unwary people, fraudsters are exploiting phony websites, false social media profiles, Facebook adverts, and even sponsored ads on search engines like Google. These scammers are mimicking reputable travel platforms by building compelling websites that look professional and provide services like:

• Helicopter bookings for Kedarnath and the Chardham Yatra
• Guest house and hotel reservations for pilgrims
• Online cab and taxi bookings
• Holiday packages and religious tour arrangementsAfter making payments through these fake platforms, victims often receive no booking confirmation. Contact details shared by scammers become inaccessible once the payment is complete.

To tackle this growing issue, I4C has implemented a series of protective measures:

Scam Signal Exchange: Collaboration with digital platforms such as Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook to detect and remove suspicious content.

Enforcement and Cyber Mapping: Mapping of cybercrime hotspots and alerting State and UT agencies for prompt local response.

Cyber Patrolling: Identification and disabling of fraudulent websites and deceptive social media pages.

Reporting Tools: Enhanced features on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal allow users to report frauds and verify suspicious websites.

The MHA urged people to book tickets only through official websites such as:

Kedarnath Helicopter Bookings: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in

Somnath Trust and Guest House Bookings: https://somnath.org

Do's

• Confirm website authenticity before payments
• Use verified government or reputed travel portals
• Avoid clicking on unknown or sponsored ads
• Report frauds at www.cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930

Don'ts

• Don't rely on a website's professional look alone
• Don't pay without confirmed booking validation
• Don't use unverified WhatsApp or social media links
• Don't ignore unresponsive contacts-report them immediately

The MHA stressed that as cyber frauds become more advanced, the public must stay cautious and informed.