frauds are being carried out through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and sponsored ads on Google and FB.

Online Booking Scam Targeting Travelers: Home Ministry Issues Nationwide Alert, Latest News: 
In an alert issued across the country, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, on Saturday warned the public about a surge in online booking scams, particularly targeting religious pilgrims and unsuspecting tourists, ANI reported.

According to the report, these frauds are being carried out through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and sponsored ads on platforms like Google and Facebook.

In a statement, the MHA said, "The I4C has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across the country. These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines like Google."

As per the report citing I4C, scammers lure victims with fake offers such as helicopter bookings for Kedarnath, the Char Dham Yatra, hotel and guesthouse accommodations, online cab or taxi services, and religious tour packages.
I4C has urged the public to report any suspicious websites via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling the helpline number 1930 in case of fraud.

For reference, I4C advised that official bookings for Kedarnath helicopter services should only be made through the IRCTC portal at https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in, and Somnath Temple guest house bookings can be made at https://somnath.org.

To tackle cyber fraud, I4C is implementing a multi-pronged strategy that includes scam signal sharing with platforms like Google and WhatsApp, identifying cybercrime hotspots in coordination with state and UT police, and conducting cyber patrolling to take down fake sites, ads, and impersonating social media accounts. A new feature on the cybercrime portal also enables easy reporting of suspicious websites, the report read.

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