As millions prepare to attend Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri, Odisha’s Crime Branch has busted 11 fake hotel websites defrauding pilgrims with fake bookings and UPI scams. Cyber experts urge travellers to stay vigilant and only book through verified platforms.
Pilgrimage Season Turns into Cybertrap for Unsuspecting Devotees
As Odisha gears up for Rath Yatra 2025, one of India’s most iconic religious festivals, drawing millions to Puri’s Jagannath Temple, cybercriminals are exploiting the surge in travel demand. The state’s Crime Branch, under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has uncovered and taken down 11 fake hotel booking websites that were duping pilgrims and tourists with fraudulent offers.
From counterfeit social media ads to cloned hotel websites mimicking renowned properties like Mayfair Heritage and OTDC Panthanivas, the scams have caused widespread financial loss and confusion among travellers. The fraudulent platforms, often deceptively ranking high in Google search results, lured victims with ultra-cheap deals and demanded full advance payments via UPI and e-wallets.
At least 317 complaints have already been logged through the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930). In most cases, victims reported receiving fake receipts and then discovering, often upon arrival in Puri or Bhubaneswar, that their bookings did not exist.
FCRF x CERT-In Roll Out National Cyber Crisis Management Course to Prepare India’s Digital Defenders
CID’s Digital Surveillance Unit in Overdrive as Scam Tactics Evolve
With the Rath Yatra set for July, Odisha’s CID has intensified digital surveillance, working closely with the social media team @cybercopodisha and private cyber threat trackers. Eleven rogue domains have already been taken offline, including impersonations such as:
- https://www.mayfairheritagepuri.org
- https://otdcpanthanivaspuri.co.in
- https://hotel-panthanivas-puri-otdc.hotelsgds.com
- https://www.hoteldeepganga.com
A senior cyber officer with CID stated that these websites are designed to mimic real hotels so closely that even seasoned travellers get fooled. Some even featured Google Ads and SEO optimization to appear at the top of search results. This is no longer just local trickery, this is organized digital fraud.
The CID’s internal cyber intel unit is now collaborating with ICANN, Indian CERT, and domain registrars to block and blacklist fraudulent domains and launch broader advisories on safe travel booking.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Staying Safe: What Pilgrims and Tourists Need to Know
In a public advisory, the CID has emphasized caution while booking accommodation online, especially during high-demand periods like the Rath Yatra. Travellers are urged to use verified travel platforms like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Booking.com, or official Odisha Tourism websites. They also recommend confirming bookings by calling the hotel directly, using Google Maps to verify addresses, avoiding full advance payments, and demanding official booking IDs or invoices.
Victims are encouraged to call 1930 or tag suspicious listings to @cybercopodisha on social media for quick action. As the Rath Yatra draws near, law enforcement is determined to ensure that faith and festivity are not marred by online deception.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.