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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Police caution against online fraud while booking hotels during Rath Yatra
Bhubaneswar: The state police have launched an awareness campaign to protect tourists from cyber scammers during the upcoming Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri as incidents of online hotel booking scams continue unabated. As hotel room demand surges before the June 27 Rath Yatra, police authorities apprehend a potential rise in cyber fraud incidents involving bookings. The police are urging visitors to ensure they use legitimate hotel websites and authorised booking platforms. "We have observed a concerning pattern of cyber fraud cases specifically targeting visitors attempting to book hotels. With the annual festival approaching on June 27, we expect these incidents to escalate if preventive measures are not taken. People should exercise caution while booking rooms in hotels," DG (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said. According to police sources, at least 15 tourists lost around Rs 60,000 to scammers in the last six months during online hotel bookings in the state. The scammers typically operate through fake websites and unauthorized booking platforms that closely mimic legitimate hotel booking sites. "We strongly recommend visitors to verify the authenticity of booking platforms and use only official hotel websites or recognized travel portals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo We also urge hoteliers to remain vigilant," Mishra said. In April, the state crime branch arrested two men, including an IT professional from Uttar Pradesh, for deceiving tourists through a fake website that impersonated Puri Jagannath Temple's guest house facilities. Previously, a number of fraudulent websites closely resembled the temple's official booking portals ( and creating confusion among pilgrims. Bhubaneswar: The state police have launched an awareness campaign to protect tourists from cyber scammers during the upcoming Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri as incidents of online hotel booking scams continue unabated. As hotel room demand surges before the June 27 Rath Yatra, police authorities apprehend a potential rise in cyber fraud incidents involving bookings. The police are urging visitors to ensure they use legitimate hotel websites and authorised booking platforms. "We have observed a concerning pattern of cyber fraud cases specifically targeting visitors attempting to book hotels. With the annual festival approaching on June 27, we expect these incidents to escalate if preventive measures are not taken. People should exercise caution while booking rooms in hotels," DG (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said. According to police sources, at least 15 tourists lost around Rs 60,000 to scammers in the last six months during online hotel bookings in the state. The scammers typically operate through fake websites and unauthorized booking platforms that closely mimic legitimate hotel booking sites. "We strongly recommend visitors to verify the authenticity of booking platforms and use only official hotel websites or recognized travel portals. We also urge hoteliers to remain vigilant," Mishra said. In April, the state crime branch arrested two men, including an IT professional from Uttar Pradesh, for deceiving tourists through a fake website that impersonated Puri Jagannath Temple's guest house facilities. Previously, a number of fraudulent websites closely resembled the temple's official booking portals ( and creating confusion among pilgrims.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Bengal shopkeeper held for role in duping Paradip man of Rs 73 lakh
Bhubaneswar: State crime branch on Thursday arrested a 26-year-old shopkeeper from Howrah, West Bengal, for his alleged involvement in a cyber scam in which a senior citizen from Paradip was placed under digital arrest and duped of over Rs 73 lakh. The accused, identified as Rohit Kumar Jaiswal, allegedly acted as a money mule in the elaborate scheme orchestrated by fraudsters operating from Cambodia. "The accused received a substantial amount in his bank account," DG (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said. Unknown scammers, impersonating CBI and Delhi Police officers, targeted the 62-year-old victim by claiming that a suspicious parcel containing ATM cards, passports, laptops and drugs had been intercepted by customs while being shipped from New Delhi to Shanghai, China. The fraudsters told the victim that his phone number and Aadhaar details were linked to this shipment. Crime branch officers said the fraudsters subjected the victim to a digital arrest. Under duress, the victim transferred Rs 73,62,000 to various accounts between May 9 and 14 last year before realizing it was a scam. "Investigation revealed that Jaiswal's role was limited to receiving the fraudulently obtained money in his account. The masterminds, operating from Cambodia, used a network of Indian accomplices to execute the fraud. Efforts are on to arrest others," another police officer said. Cybersecurity experts warned that digital arrest scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters exploiting people's fear of law enforcement agencies to execute their schemes. They advised citizens to verify the authenticity of such calls and never transfer money under pressure. "We normally see that the police are arresting only the money receivers (mule account holders) whereas the real culprits continue to remain elusive. Unless the masterminds are caught, the scammers will continue to look for new targets," Binayak Sahoo, a cyber safety expert, said. Police officers said the arrest of cybercriminals, particularly ringleaders, faces considerable obstacles due to their technical expertise, global operations and challenges in evidence collection. "These barriers include technological complexities and identity concealment as cybercriminals use sophisticated methods to conceal their identities and activities. They employ encryption, proxy servers and various tools to conceal their digital footprints. Besides, we cannot travel abroad for investigation and arrests," a cyber cop said.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- New Indian Express
CB arrests seven in separate cases of duping pilgrims and investment fraud in Odisha
CUTTACK: The Cyber Crime unit of Crime Branch on Monday arrested seven persons - two for their alleged involvement in swindling money from pilgrims by creating a fake website, and the other five in separate cases of investment fraud. Briefing mediapersons, special DG, Crime Branch Vinaytosh Mishra said in the first case, police arrested accused Anshuman Sharma (24) and his aide Aravinda Kumar (35), both Uttar Pradesh natives, for allegedly defrauding gullible pilgrims seeking accommodation in Puri, through their fake website The matter came to light after Arabinda Padhee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, filed a complaint in this connection on March 10. As per the complaint, the fraudsters had been asking pilgrims to deposit money online to get accommodation at Neeladri Bhakta Nivas in Puri. A laptop, mobile phone, SIM card, details of the fake website Niladri Bhakta Nivas, Aadhaar card, PAN card, hosting details of Niladri Bhakta Nivas and the SIM card used for registration of website have been seized from the accused persons, he said. Meanwhile, five other miscreants have also been arrested in separate cases of investment fraud. In the first case, the Crime Branch nabbed one Hiteshbhai Patra (39) from Surat in Gujarat for his alleged involvement in an investment fraud of Rs 1.28 crore. Police said Patra originally belongs to Balasore but works as a website developer in Surat. 'He is the first layer account holder and Rs 27 lakh was seized from his bank account. Six bank cheque books, 31 debit and credit cards, 13 rubber stamps of different fake companies, 12 mobile phones, SIM cards, four pen-drives, and eight government and non-government ID cards were seized from his possession,' said Mishra. Similarly, CB has arrested 25-year-old Parth Parmar of Ahmedabad in connection with another case of investment fraud amounting to Rs 7.5 crore. 'He is the first layer account holder and a sum of Rs 25 lakh was directly deposited to his account,' Mishra said. In another case, Thakkar Karsanji Sobhaji (48) of Thakkarbhas in Bhavar and Kureshi Mohammed Aslam (31) of Kapadvanj in Gujarat were arrested in connection with investment fraud of Rs 87.80 lakh. Both are the first layer account holders and a sum Rs 9.3 lakh and `6 lakh respectively were seized from their bank accounts. The CB team has also arrested Akash Kesharwani (33) of Arail More under Naini police station in UP in connection with an investment fraud of Rs 1.4 crore. He is the second layer account holder and Rs 3.7 lakh has been transferred to his account.
