Cyber Fraudsters Dupe West Bengal Tourist On Pretext Of Hotel Booking In Puri

Puri: With increasing number of tourists visiting Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri, cyber fraudsters have become active to dupe unsuspecting visitors seeking online hotel booking. Many tourists are falling prey to fake hotel websites and losing money while booking rooms online.

One such case has come to light after a tourist from West Bengal was reportedly cheated of over Rs 16,000 by fraudsters while booking a hotel online in Puri town.

As per reports, Rakesh Haldar from West Bengal had planned to visit Puri from November 2 to 7 with his family and friends. While searching for hotels, he came across an advertisement for Swarna Deep Holiday Homes. Thinking it to be genuine, he paid over Rs 16,000 online to book three rooms, sources said.

However, after reaching Puri he found that no hotel in the name of ‘Swarna Deep’ existed in the town. He approached the local cyber police station and lodged a complaint in this regard.

Stating that a woman had sent a video on WhatsApp with the hotel named Swarna Deep Holiday Homes, he said he had initially paid Rs 8,000 as advance online for three rooms. In the second instalment, Rs 8,830 was paid, he claimed.

It may be recalled here that there were reports of fake online bookings going on in the name of ‘Niladri Bhakt Niwas’ that is under the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration.