Beware of fake helicopter services for Char Dham Yatra amid rising cyber scams: Police
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Uttarakhand police has urged pilgrims heading for the Char Dham Yatra to book helicopter services only through the authentic official websites following a recent cyber fraud case. The advisory comes after a Kolkata-based gang allegedly defrauded a family from Karnataka of Rs 17 lakh by offering fake helicopter packages for the Char Dham Yatra.
The Char Dham Yatra began recently, drawing thousands of devotees from across the country. Many pilgrims are opting for helicopter services to Kedarnath and other shrines, which has unfortunately opened avenues for cyber criminals. In one such case reported on Sunday, a man from Karnataka booked a travel package costing Rs 75,000 per person after finding an online advertisement. Believing it to be genuine, he transferred over Rs 12 lakh for 17 family members, which included helicopter rides and hotel accommodations. The family arrived in Dehradun on Sunday, only to discover that the phone number provided by the alleged service provider had been disconnected. Realising they had been scammed, the victim approached the Dehradun police, who found the fraud originated in Karnataka.
The officials informed that the cybercriminals used a mobile number registered in Kolkata and the case has now been transferred to Karnataka Police for further investigation. Authorities revealed that similar frauds have occurred frequently over the past few years. In 2023 alone, over 40 cases were registered across Uttarakhand. By June 2024, officials had already taken down 85 fake websites and 45 fraudulent Facebook pages that were promoting fake helicopter booking services. Scammers are now creating websites that mimic official portals, making it difficult for unsuspecting users to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent platforms.
The superintendent of police (Vigilance) Rachita Juyal said that the primary reason for such frauds is people booking helicopter services through random websites found via search engines, without verifying their authenticity. The second phase of booking for helicopter services to Kedarnath is also set to begin on May 7. She advised booking Kedarnath helicopter services only through the official website of the IRCTC at heliyatra.irctc.co.in and checking the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) website for other Char Dham shrines.
She informed that the police have blocked 37 social media pages so far that were claiming to provide helicopter services for Char Dham Yatra. Juyal requested the public to report suspicious websites, links or mobile numbers associated with fake helicopter services. People can share such information with the police or report financial frauds by calling 1930.
