Tirupati. Twenty-seven devotees from Delhi were allegedly duped through a fake hotel booking website during a pilgrimage to Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, leaving them without accommodation after they reached the town. The group had booked nine AC rooms online and paid approximately ₹15,000 through UPI before discovering that no reservation existed in their names.
Booking Confirmation Turns Out to Be Fake
The devotees said they received a confirmation message and receipt after making the online payment, which made the booking appear genuine. However, when they reached Mallikarjuna Sadan in Srisailam, hotel staff informed them that no rooms had been reserved for the group.
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The pilgrims showed booking details and screenshots on their phones, but the hotel management clarified that the reservation had not been made through any authorised platform. The booking was suspected to have been generated through a fake website operating as part of an online fraud.
Temple Authorities Arrange Stay and Darshan
After the group was left stranded, local authorities intervened. With the assistance of temple officials, free accommodation was arranged for all 27 devotees.
Special arrangements were also made for their darshan so that their pilgrimage was not disrupted. The Srisailam temple, dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, is among the 12 Jyotirlingas and attracts large numbers of devotees every year.
Digital Trail Under Investigation
Officials are now examining the digital trail linked to the fraudulent website and UPI payment transactions. Authorities are trying to trace the source of the fake booking platform and identify those involved in the scam.
Travellers have been advised to use only verified and official booking platforms for hotel and pilgrimage-related reservations. Authorities also urged users to check website URLs, contact details and reviews before making payments online.
Cyber security professionals have advised victims of such frauds to immediately report incidents through cyber helplines and preserve payment receipts, screenshots and other digital evidence for investigation.
