Bengaluru: A cyber fraud case involving a fake website created in the name of a government guest house has surfaced in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru, where customers were allegedly cheated in the name of online room bookings. Police have registered a case against the suspected fraudulent booking portal operating in the name of New Kumara Krupa State Guest House and launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that cybercriminals misused the identity of the government-run guest house, sent fake booking confirmations and invoices to customers, and collected payments through online transactions.
According to police, the fraud came to light after a customer lost ₹11,000 while attempting to book a room through the fake website. The victim approached the Central CEN Crime Police and reported the incident. During the preliminary investigation, police traced one of the suspects, who allegedly admitted involvement in the fraud and returned the cheated amount to the victim. However, the victim later did not proceed with a formal complaint, making further legal action difficult at that stage.
Considering the repeated nature of such frauds and the possibility of more victims, police contacted the guest house authorities. Based on a complaint filed by Karthik Santhosh, senior manager of the guest house, an FIR was registered. Police have initiated action under relevant provisions related to identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
Investigators said cybercriminals created a website that appeared similar to the official booking platform of the government guest house. The fake portal displayed room availability, booking procedures and payment options to appear genuine. To gain customers’ trust, the fraudsters allegedly generated fake booking confirmations and invoices carrying the name of the guest house. After convincing customers about the authenticity of the service, they collected money through online payment methods.
Police are now trying to determine how many people were targeted through the fake website and the total amount of money collected by the fraudsters. Investigators are examining technical details linked to the website, domain registration information, payment transactions and other digital evidence. Authorities are also coordinating with concerned agencies to get the fraudulent website disabled.
Police officials said such frauds are becoming increasingly common, where criminals misuse the names of government institutions, hotels, tourism facilities and reputed organisations to gain public trust. Fake websites, fraudulent customer care numbers and misleading payment links are frequently used by cybercriminals to deceive users and cause financial losses.
This is not the first time that New Kumara Krupa State Guest House has been targeted. Earlier in September 2025, Bengaluru’s High Grounds Police Station had registered a case after fraudsters created another fake website in the name of the guest house and collected money from customers by offering room booking services.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said fake website frauds primarily exploit people’s trust in reputed organisations. He said cybercriminals create fake digital identities by copying the branding and appearance of government departments, hotels and popular services, making it difficult for ordinary users to identify the fraud. He advised citizens to verify website authenticity, domain names and official contact details before making any online booking or payment.
Experts believe that with the rapid expansion of digital services, institutions must regularly monitor their online presence and take immediate action against fake websites using their identity. Timely identification of fraudulent portals and reporting them to law enforcement agencies can help prevent large-scale cyber frauds.
Police have appealed to citizens to remain cautious while making online payments and immediately report any suspicious website, payment request or fraudulent communication to cybercrime authorities or the concerned police unit.
