Government Warns Against Fake Travel Sites And Paid Ad Scams
Updated: 21-04-2025 at 5:31 PM
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The increasing usage of the internet and smartphones in India brings opportunities, as well as challenges. More recently, there has been a severe increase in the number of scams reported with online booking facilities throughout the nation. From Kedarnath helicopter bookings to religious tour packages, scammers are using fake websites and deceptive advertisements to manipulate consumers into paying for services which they don’t provide.
In response, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has put out a public warning and advisory.
Read More: Cyber Scams In India: Shocking Cases And Safety Tips For 2025
How The Scam Works?
Fraudsters create realistic-looking travel websites and market them via qualified ads on Google, WhatsApp and Facebook. These websites usually offer low prices or promise bookings for popular tourism products such as:
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Helicopter rides to Kedarnath & Char Dham.
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Booking of hotels and guesthouses for pilgrims.
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Taxi and cab services.
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Complete religious tours and pilgrimages.
Once users make online payments, they receive no confirmation, no service, and no refund. Often, the contact numbers on the fake sites are either unreachable or completely fake.
Most Commonly Targeted Services
Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting religious tourism and travel bookings to defraud innocent users.
| Service Type | Example of Scam Target |
|---|---|
| Helicopter bookings | Kedarnath, Char Dham |
| Hotel/Guesthouse reservations | Somnath, Badrinath |
| Cab and taxi service bookings | Inter-city pilgrim cabs |
| Holiday and religious tour packages | North India yatras |
How To Protect Yourself? Safety Guidelines By I4C
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has provided users with critical tips to help prevent cyber exploitation:
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Reservations should only be made through trusted travel agencies or official portals.
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Make sure not to fall for WhatsApp forwarded or social media advertisements claiming ‘limited period offers/ discounts.’
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Most scam sites use small spelling errors or unofficial domains; verify URLs very carefully.
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Check agency reviews online and confirm the travel agency’s contact number.
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Never share any advance payments until necessary credentials are verified.
Official Travel Portals For Safe Booking
The following are some verified government links for particular regions of interest:
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Kedarnath Helicopter Booking: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in
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Somnath Guesthouse Booking: https://www.somnath.org
Avoid any other website claiming to offer these services unless listed on a government portal.
Read More: Beware Of Task Completion Scams: A Costly Cyber Fraud
What To Do If You Are Scammed?
Booking scams are becoming a big problem, especially for religious trips and holidays. Online scammers are getting smarter, so it's very important to check everything carefully before making any payment and to avoid clicking on unknown links or websites.
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Report it immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
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Call the Cyber Helpline: Dial 1930 to stop or recover financial transactions.
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Gather proof such as screenshots, emails, and transaction IDs to support your case.
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The faster you report, the better your chances of recovery.
How Is The Government Working To Stop Such Scams?
Due to the increased incidents of cyber frauds and the establishment of fake service portals, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)has increased its activities aimed at safeguarding citizens and dismantling the scam networks.
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Collaborating with Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp to track down and disable scam links.
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Watching over digital hot spots from where such scams stem.
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Fostering coordinated state-level cyber vigilance.
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Simplifying the reporting process on cybercrime.gov.in.
Conclusion
Scams involving online bookings, especially for holiday and religious travel, are one of the fastest-growing threats today. As scammers become more advanced, it is essential to be careful, double-check everything before payment, and never trust links or platforms without prior validation.
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