PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
With helicopter service resuming for the second phase of the Char Dham Yatra after the monsoon break, cyber fraudsters have also become active once again, targeting pilgrims looking to book chopper services online.
In a recent case, the Rudraprayag police arrested a Dehradun resident for allegedly duping a pilgrim of around Rs five lakh in the name of a helicopter ticket. The case was registered in August at Guptkashi police station following a complaint by a pilgrim from Pune, Maharashtra.
The Special Task Force senior superintendent of police, Ajai Singh said that the team had shut down around 300 fake websites and 400 social media pages that were allegedly being used to spread false information and deceive pilgrims.
“Fraudsters create websites that look authentic and make them appear like genuine booking platforms. Once a person contacts them, they send forms, pamphlets and identity cards on WhatsApp to make victims believe that they are genuine and based in Uttarakhand. This helps them gain the trust of pilgrims before cheating them,” Singh said.
He advised pilgrims to book helicopter tickets only through authentic government platforms, including IRCTC, and warned them against offers promising heavy discounts.
“Fraudsters often use discounts to trap people. They may offer a 30 per cent discount, but such offers can be a trap. People should not fall for them,” Singh said.
He also advised pilgrims booking through travel agents to visit the agent’s office and verify its credentials before making any payment. “Pilgrims should not blindly trust contact numbers circulated on social media,” he added.
