Friday, 05 May 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The cyber crime police station of Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) shut down 15 more fake helicopter service booking websites for the Char Dham Yatra. The STF is monitoring online platforms to keep an eye on potential fake websites that can dupe pilgrims and is taking action against them accordingly, said the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the cyber crime police station, STF, Ankush Mishra.
The government has made Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) an official partner for the booking of helicopter service for Char Dham Yatra that started on April 8 but several fake websites continue to surface online to dupe pilgrims across the country in the pretext of providing them helicopter service. The STF last month blocked 14 such fake websites. The cyber crime team of STF has also recently written to Google to take down such fake websites, said Mishra.
The 15 websites shut down by STF are https://www.helicopterticketbooking.in/, https://radheheliservices.online, https://kedarnathticketbooking.co.in/, https://heliyatrairtc.co.in/, https://kedarnathtravel.in/ , https://instanthelibooking.in, https://kedarnathticketbooking.in/, https://kedarnathheliticketbooking.in/, https://helicopterticketbooking.co.in/, https://indiavisittravels.in/, https://tourpackage.info, https://heliticketbooking.online, http://vaisnoheliservice.com/, https://helichardham.in/, https://irtcyatraheli.in/. The DSP said that the scammers are upgrading themselves and have started making fake websites appearing similar to the official IRCTC website to dupe more people. He said that 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, added Mishra.
