States » EastPosted at: Jul 1 2025 2:46PM


Odisha Cyber Crime unit identifies 23 fake hotel websites, blocks 15 so far

Bhubaneswar, July 1 (UNI) The Social Media Team of the Cyber Crime Unit under the CID, Crime Branch, Odisha, has identified 23 fake hotel websites and has sent them for immediate blocking.
Out of these, 15 websites have already been blocked, and action is underway to block the remaining ones, Crime Branch sources said today.
The Cyber Crime Unit is on high alert this year, especially during the Rath Yatra, as many people from Odisha and other states were defrauded by similar scams last year.
This year, the team began its vigilance drive in June and has been actively working to identify fake hotel websites, report them promptly, and issue timely alerts to the public.
The crackdown will continue until the "Sunabesha" ritual of the Holy Trinity at the Shree Jagannath Temple, according to sources.
To protect the public, the team is also regularly posting awareness messages and safety alerts about such scams through its official cyber safety pages.
Citizens are encouraged to follow @cybercopodisha on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for crucial updates, cyber safety tips, and real-time warnings.
According to the Cyber Crime Unit, cybercriminals are creating fake websites mimicking hotels in Puri, especially during the Rath Yatra season, to deceive the public with attractive discounts on online bookings.
Innocent tourists, especially those in urgent need of accommodation, are being tricked by these fraudulent sites. These fake pages are made to closely resemble genuine hotel websites in design, branding, and even URL, making it difficult for users to tell the difference.
Once the victims are convinced, fraudsters demand full payments via UPI, digital wallets, or bank transfers and issue fake booking confirmations. Crime Branch sources noted that these fraudulent websites are often promoted to appear at the top of Google search results.
The Odisha Crime Branch has urged the public to book hotels only through trusted platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, or official tourism websites.
It also advised verifying the hotel's phone number and location through Google Maps, and to always confirm the booking by calling the hotel directly.
Additionally, people are advised not to make full advance payments, to use only secure payment gateways, and to avoid transferring money through UPI or wallets.
If anyone comes across suspicious hotel websites or fake listings, they are urged to report them immediately by calling the Cyber Helpline at 1930.
UNI DP GNK
Tags: #Odisha Cyber Crime unit identifies 23 fake hotel websites# blocks 15 so far
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