Puri: The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) filed a complaint against a cyber fraudster for allegdely cheating pilgrims by creating fake websites for hotel booking in Odisha’s Puri city on Thursday.
According to sources, several pilgrims raised their concerns on SJTA’s official website mentioning the cyber fraud following which the temple administration filed a complaint at Puri town police station and cyber police station.
It was alleged that a youth, identified as Pramod Saha, has defrauded about Rs 21,000 from many pilgrims through an online room booking scam. He was using his mobile number to receive the payment amount from pilgrims while they were trying to book hotel rooms, stated the complaint.
At least five pilgrims were cheated by booking online rooms at Nilachal Yatri Niwas and Nilachal Bhakta Niwas. “The cyber fraudster had opened a fake website named as Nilachal Yatri and Bhakta Niwas to cheat pilgrims. He is duping people on the pretext of hotel room booking,” a member of Puri Bhakta Niwas told the media.
The SJTA has demanded an immediate probe into the matter and strict action against the accused.
Meanwhile, the SJTA Development Administrator has urged people to book rooms through the official website Srimandir administration.