Bhubaneswar: Amid a surge in demand for hotel rooms before the June 27 Rath Yatra, the Crime Branch on Wednesday issued an alert to the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists heading to Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
“Fraudsters create fake websites and social media pages that look genuine, offering cheap rates, urgent deals, and guaranteed bookings. They demand full payment via UPI, wallets, or bank transfer and use fake customer care numbers and receipts. Many of these fake sites appear at the top of Google search results, making them hard to identify. Victims often realise the scam only after reaching the destination,” the CB said in a release.
It also informed about having identified and removed 11 such websites. “Through the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, our team has already received 317 complaints regarding fake hotel booking websites, and necessary action has been taken against them.”
Visitors have been urged to ensure that they use legitimate hotel websites and authorised booking platforms.
According to police sources, at least 15 tourists were defrauded of approximately Rs 60,000 by scammers during online hotel bookings in the state. In April, the CB apprehended two individuals, including an IT professional from Uttar Pradesh, for tricking tourists with a fake website mimicking the guest house facilities of Puri Jagannath Temple. Earlier, several fraudulent websites closely resembled the temple’s official booking portals (www.shreejagannatha.in and www.stayatpurijagannatha.in), creating confusion among pilgrims.
Advisory
>> Book hotels only through verified platforms like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Booking.com, etc. or official tourism websites.
>> Cross-check the hotel’s contact number and address using Google Maps, and confirm the booking by calling directly. •
>> Avoid making full advance payments; pay partially if possible and use secure payment gateways instead of direct UPI or wallet transfers.
>> Always ask for a proper booking confirmation via SMS or email with a valid booking ID or invoice.
>> Be cautious of unrealistically low-priced deals, especially near Puri during Rath Yatra.
>> Read recent reviews and ratings on trusted platforms like Google or TripAdvisor before booking.
>> If you come across any fake hotel websites or suspicious listings, report them immediately to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
To raise awareness, regular alerts and safety tips are being shared via the Crime Branch’s official cyber safety social media handle @cybercopodisha on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, it added.