The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand will begin on May 2, and the government is warning pilgrims to be cautious of fraudsters targeting travelers through online booking scams.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, under the Union Home Ministry, has issued an alert about fraudulent activities happening across the country, with scammers using fake websites, misleading social media pages, Facebook posts, and Google ads to deceive people.
How Fraudsters Are Targeting People
The frauds involve creating professional-looking fake websites, social media profiles, and WhatsApp accounts.
Fraudsters are offering various services, including helicopter bookings for Kedarnath, hotel and guest house reservations for Char Dham pilgrims, online cab or taxi bookings, “holiday packages,” and religious tours.
Government’s Tips to Avoid Cyber Fraud
The Home Ministry has urged people to be extra cautious and follow these steps to avoid falling victim to fraud:
Always verify the authenticity of the website before making any payments.
Be cautious before clicking on sponsored or unknown links on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp.
Only book services through official government portals or trusted travel agencies.
If you come across any fake websites, the ministry advises reporting them immediately to the helpline number.
