Follow us on Google News
With the peak tourism season underway and travel plans rising, cyber fraudsters are exploiting the growing demand for online bookings by offering fake jungle safari packages and accommodation deals. In recent days, at least eight complaints have been registered with the cyber police in Varanasi, where victims were allegedly duped in the name of booking jungle safaris and vehicle permits for Jim Corbett National Park.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
According to police officials, the fraudsters used social media platforms to circulate advertisements promising jungle safari bookings, open jeep permits and guest house stays at unusually low prices. Unsuspecting travellers, lured by discounted rates, transferred money online, only to later discover that no bookings had been made and the contact numbers were no longer reachable.
In one of the reported cases, a resident of Ashok Vihar Colony in the Paharia area lost ₹35,000 after being assured of a confirmed jungle safari booking. The victim alleged that she was contacted through a social media advertisement claiming to offer guaranteed safari slots and vehicle arrangements inside Jim Corbett National Park. After making the payment, she received no confirmation details, and subsequent calls went unanswered.
Another complainant from Indra Nagar Colony in Chitaipur reported that ₹38,000 was debited from his account under a similar pretext. Police said the fraudsters posed as authorised tour operators and shared forged screenshots of booking confirmations to gain trust before asking for advance payments.
Cyber police officials stated that all eight complaints received so far follow a similar pattern. The victims were promised safari permits, jeeps or accommodation in forest guest houses. In each case, payments were sought through digital modes, after which the fraudsters disappeared. None of the complainants has been able to recover their money so far.
Officials noted that while religious and historical destinations continue to attract tourists, there is a growing fascination for wildlife tourism and jungle safaris. This trend has made popular destinations such as Jim Corbett particularly vulnerable to online scams. Fraudsters are taking advantage of limited safari slots and peak-season demand to create urgency and pressure travellers into making quick payments.
Police investigations indicate that the fake advertisements were circulated through social media pages and messaging platforms, often using images copied from legitimate tourism websites. The ads highlighted “limited-time offers” and “guaranteed bookings” to attract attention. In several instances, victims were asked not to book through official portals on the pretext that the safari slots were already blocked in advance.
Cyber police officials have cautioned travellers against trusting such offers. They have advised people to verify bookings only through the official website of the destination or through authorised tour and travel agencies. Officials stressed that national parks do not confirm safaris or accommodation through random social media advertisements or personal messaging accounts.
The cyber cell has also appealed to people to avoid transferring money to unknown accounts and to be wary of deals that appear significantly cheaper than prevailing market rates. “Scammers rely on urgency and attractive pricing to trap victims. If an offer looks too good to be true, it usually is,” an official said.
Police said awareness campaigns are being intensified to prevent such frauds during the tourism season. Citizens have been urged to report suspicious advertisements and immediately approach cyber police in case of any financial loss.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the digital trail of the fraudsters. Officials believe that similar scams may be operating across multiple cities, targeting travellers planning wildlife tours. As online travel planning continues to rise, authorities have reiterated the need for caution, verification and use of official booking channels to avoid falling prey to such cyber frauds.
