Overview

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an alert about cyber frauds targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across India, particularly those booking services for Char Dham and Kedarnath.
• Scammers are using fake websites, deceptive social media profiles, and paid ads on platforms like Google and Facebook to offer fraudulent services such as helicopter rides, accommodations, and tour packages.
• Victims often discover the fraud only after payments are made, with no service confirmation and unreachable contact numbers.
• Citizens are advised to verify the authenticity of booking platforms, avoid unknown or sponsored links, and use official portals like heliyatra.irctc.co.in for Kedarnath helicopter bookings and somnath.org for guest house reservations.
• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre is disabling fake sites, collaborating with IT intermediaries, identifying cybercrime hotspots, and enhancing reporting features on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.