PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
Going by past records, cyber frauds may become active with the start of the Char Dham Yatra slated in April this year. They are known to use various tricks to entrap people from across India and abroad undertaking the pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. Considering this situation, the Cyber Crime Police Station has already issued an alert and appealed to pilgrims to stay cautious.
Cyber Crime assistant superintendent of police Kush Mishra said that mainly two types of frauds have come to light during the Char Dham Yatra—fake helicopter bookings and fake hotel bookings. He explained that fraudsters may contact people through WhatsApp, claiming to be genuine agents. They create fake IDs and customer care numbers and upload them on Google. By repeatedly clicking on these links, they make them appear at the top of search results.
The ASP further said that cyber frauds create fake websites that closely resemble genuine portals and then carry out bookings through them. He advised people not to fall into such traps and to use only official platforms like the IRCTC website or other trusted booking websites.
Mishra also informed that the number 8394833833 is associated with Uttarakhand Tourism. If one messages to this number via WhatsApp regarding the Yatra, it will provide the sender with a link for helicopter services, through which bookings can be made. Many times, fraudsters lure people with attractive offers and cheap packages to entrap them. The police have advised pilgrims to use only official websites and authorised platforms for registration and booking.
It is pertinent to mention here that about 51 lakh people undertook the Char Dham Yatra in 2025. With cyber crime emerging as one of the major forms of crimes across the nation, Uttarakhand has not remained untouched. Cases of pilgrims being targeted by cyber criminals have come to light in the past. Considering these aspects, the authorities are urging precaution.
