City

Online Hotel Booking Fraud: Hoteliers, Tour Operators Turn Cyber Volunteers In Odisha’s Puri

By
OB Bureau

Puri: Hoteliers, staff, and tour operators in Puri town will now act as cyber volunteers to check the rise in online fraud under an initiative launched by Odisha Police.

According to sources, they will act as a bridge between the tourists and the police. “The cyber volunteers will immediately inform the police whenever they receive any complaints from tourists or come across any fraudulent websites attempting to dupe visitors,” Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said after launching the initiative on Wednesday.

An awareness drive was also conducted among hoteliers, employees, and travel agents on cyber security as they would be the first point of contact for duped tourists. They have been sensitized to give assurance to tricked victims, collect their contact details and share the details with the police team for immediate action.

“Our personnel would contact the tourists and extend all possible help,” Singh said.

Notably, Puri police launched a helpline number (6370967100) for tourists in anguish in February.

Several tourists have been falling prey to cyber fraud in the recent past and being cheated with attractive offers on hotel bookings.

It is pertinent to mention here that a tourist from Chhattisgarh came across a website that was offering a helicopter ride over the Jagannath Temple and sea in Puri in the month of May. The victim booked a ride for four of his family for two hours on the website and paid Rs 66,000 online without any verification and confirmation. However, he later realised that he had been duped.

In a similar incident, a tourist from Ahmedabad booked two rooms in a sea-facing hotel along with a vehicle for sightseeing for Rs 29,999 through a portal in February and learnt that he has also been cheated after arriving in Puri.

A dozen tourists were duped by cyber crooks in the name of hotel booking in Puri last year, the sources added.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

New Artist To Play King Kansa Role During Dhanu Yatra In Odisha’s Bargarh

Bargarh: A new artist will be selected to play the mythological character King Kansa during…

November 22, 2024

Shah Rukh’s Daughter Suhana Khan Brutally Trolled For Vivo Ad [Watch]

Mumbai: Suhana Khan will be making her Bollywood debut with ‘King’ along with her superstar…

November 22, 2024

Badshah Comes Out In Support Of Diljit Dosanjh In Alcohol Controversy

New Delhi: After Diljit Dosanjh called out the double standards of Telangana government for banning…

November 22, 2024

World War 3 Has Begun, Says Ukraine’s Former Military Chief

New Delhi: Recent actions and counter-actions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have pushed the world to the…

November 22, 2024

3 Arrested With Fake IPS Officers’ Uniforms, Identity Cards In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: Three persons were arrested and fake IPS officers’ uniforms along with fake identity cards…

November 22, 2024

‘I Want To Talk’: Twitterati Lauds Abhishek Bachchan, Say He Is Better Than Amitabh

Mumbai: Abhishek Bachchan’s highly-anticipated film ‘I Want To Talk’ released in theatres on Friday, and the…

November 22, 2024

Cash-For-Vote Row: BJP Leader’s Defamation Notice Against Rahul Gandhi, Kharge

New Delhi: Accused of giving cash to secure votes ahead of election day in Maharashtra,…

November 22, 2024

CM Mohan Majhi Attends ‘Odisha State Day’ Celebrations At IITF In Delhi

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the ‘Odisha State Day Celebrations’ at the 43rd…

November 22, 2024