- Fake websites defraud Kedarnath pilgrims seeking helicopter services.
- Scammers use paid ads, WhatsApp for fraudulent bookings.
- Book only through official IRCTC Heli Yatra portal.
A scam involving helicopter services in the Kedarnath yatra has emerged as one of the latest cyber frauds targeting devotees, the Rudraprayag Police have revealed.
According to the police, the cybercriminals are tricking devotees seeking helicopter services by creating fake websites identical to official portals.
According to a report by News18, many of the pilgrims found they were scammed only after reaching helipads as their tickets were termed fake. The police said that they received dozens of cyber fraud complaints related to helicopter services this year. The complaints prompted a crackdown on social media portals and fake websites.
How scammers defraud devotees?
Planning to visit Kedarnath, many users make Google searches for helicopter tickets. The users often come across websites that look authentic and offer packages for Char Dham and helicopter fare charts.
The scammers also indulge in practises like paid advertisements to appear at the top of the searches, often garnering more clicks than the official portals.
Upon clicking, users are prompted to contact the listed numbers, which then route the conversation to a WhatsApp chat.
It is usually through messaging applications that fraudsters share fare charts and obtain crucial information. The payment links are also shared in the chat.
Once the payment is made, victims are shared an e-ticket that looks genuine. They get to know about being scammed after arriving at the helipads.
The report by the aforementioned media portal suggests that the investigations into the matter have uncovered a cybercrime network operating across multiple states.
Dozens of websites and social media accounts have been shut down, and the bank accounts used to collect money were frozen as part of the probe.
How to stay safe and get authentic bookings
The Rudraprayag police, according to the report, have urged the devotees to follow these steps to avoid getting scammed:
- Book tickets only through the IRCTC Heli Yatra portal
- Avoid websites appearing through advertisements
- Do not share details on portals before carefully checking
- Do not make payments through shared links
- Verify bookings through official channels