43 fake helicopter booking websites targetting Char Dham pilgrims blocked since April
Thursday, 07 September 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has blocked 43 fake websites claiming to provide helicopter services for Char Dham shrines since April. Since the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra, the STF has taken legal action against five people out of which three were arrested and two were served notice. The STF’s cyber team achieved this with the help of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs in data analysis to monitor and nab the culprits, said the STF’s senior superintendent of police Ayush Agrawal.
He said that STF has been monitoring online platforms for the past five months to keep an eye on potential fake websites that can dupe pilgrims and is taking action against them accordingly. This has saved lakhs of pilgrims from across the country and abroad from losing lakhs of money to these cyber frauds. However, he added, people also need to be more cautious and appealed to them to refrain from transferring money or providing bank details to any unknown person.
He also urged the public to provide information about such fake service providers including websites, web links, and mobile numbers to STF. Such details can also be sent on mobile numbers- 9456591505 and 9412080875. He also appealed to people to use only the official website of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in for booking helicopter service for the Char Dham Yatra.
