Bharatpur/Rajasthan, and Mathura/ Uttar Pradesh: Prominent religious destinations, have been flagged as major centers for this new wave of criminal activity. This surge is directly attributed to the high volume of financial transactions associated with the tourism sector, making these areas attractive targets for criminals looking to exploit a constant stream of short-term, unsuspecting victims. These criminals are increasingly sophisticated, focusing their efforts on travelers who are often distracted and reliant on quick, online bookings for their holidays.
Scammers Target Sacred Journeys and Leisure
The primary method of attack is the proliferation of fake booking websites and deceptive social media pages. Scammers create professional-looking duplicates of legitimate portals, often using paid “sponsored” advertisements on search engines like Google and social media sites to ensure their fraudulent links appear at the top of search results.
These scams are highly targeted. They focus on essential, often time-sensitive, travel services such as:
- Pilgrim Packages: Fraudulent helicopter bookings for religious sites like Kedarnath and the Char Dham Yatra.
- Accommodations: Bogus reservations for hotels, guest houses, and homestays.
- Transport: Fake online cab and taxi services.
Unknowing travelers enter their payment details, only to receive no service or confirmation, losing their money and often being stranded upon arrival.
FCRF Launches CCLP Program to Train India’s Next Generation of Cyber Law Practitioners
The Murky Money Trail and ‘Mule’ Accounts
While the scams may originate in one state, the money is often laundered in another. Investigators have identified cities like Kochi in Kerala as rapidly emerging hubs for the use of ‘mule accounts.’ These accounts are opened by petty criminals or individuals recruited by scam syndicates specifically to receive and quickly move stolen funds, thus shielding the actual masterminds.
Police officials warn that this proliferation is often due to alleged lapses in Know-Your-Customer (KYC) norms at some bank branches. Cybercriminals exploit these lax rules, opening thousands of accounts to launder their profits with speed and efficiency. By the time a victim reports the loss, the money has been moved through multiple mule accounts, making it extremely difficult for law enforcement to track and recover.
Government Sounds Alarm, Urges Vigilance
In response to the surge, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a nationwide public alert. The I4C is now employing a multi-pronged strategy, including regular scam signal exchanges with tech giants like Google and WhatsApp for proactive fraud detection.
The most critical advice for the public remains vigilance:
- Verify Authenticity: Always double-check the URL and verify the legitimacy of a website before transferring any money.
- Use Official Channels: For religious travel, book exclusively through official government portals. For instance, Kedarnath helicopter tickets should only be booked through the official IRCTC portal.
- Be Wary of Links: Avoid clicking on “sponsored” or unfamiliar links found on social media or search engine ads.
- Report Immediately: The government urges victims to report financial frauds promptly on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling the dedicated helpline 1930.
