Centre warns of online booking scams targeting pilgrims, tourists

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday issued a nationwide alert over rising cases of online booking frauds, particularly targeting pilgrims and tourists.

According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the ministry of home affairs, scammers are luring unsuspecting individuals through fake websites , deceptive social media pages, and paid advertisements—especially on platforms like Google and Facebook.

Fraudulent services include helicopter bookings for Kedarnath and Char Dham, hotel and guesthouse reservations, cab services, and religious tour packages. Victims often realise they’ve been duped only after making payments and finding the contact numbers unreachable.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across the country.

These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites,… pic.twitter.com/fIAg0mLk0k

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 19, 2025

“Always verify the authenticity of websites and avoid clicking on sponsored or unknown links,” I4C advised, urging people to rely only on official portals or trusted travel agencies.

To curb such frauds, the Centre is coordinating with platforms like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook to identify and disable fake ads and impersonating accounts. Cybercrime hotspots are also being mapped to sensitise state and UT authorities.

The I4C also highlighted the success of its systems in reducing incoming spoofed calls by nearly 97%. Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications has launched a secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) to share information on telecom misuse for fraud prevention.

Citizens can report suspicious websites or links via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.