Cuttack, June 25: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police on Wednesday issued a warning to travelers after a sharp increase in fake hotel booking scams, especially in popular destinations like Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
According to the police, scammers are creating fake websites and social media pages that look just like real hotel booking platforms. These sites often appear at the top of Google search results and offer deals that seem too good to be true — including low prices, urgent bookings, and guaranteed rooms. Victims are asked to make full payments through UPI, wallets, or bank transfers, and are given fake receipts and customer care numbers.
Most people only realize they’ve been scammed after reaching the destination and discovering that their bookings don’t exist.
So far, the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) has received 317 complaints related to fake hotel bookings. The Crime Branch has acted quickly, taking down many fake websites. A few examples of fraudulent websites include:
- https://www.hoteldeepganga.com/
- https://www.mayfairheritagepuri.org/
- https://www.hoteltamilnadu.com/
- https://otdcpanthanivaspuri.in
- https://www.hotelspuri.net
- https://hotel-panthanivas-puri-otdc.hotelsgds.com
- https://www.hotelpathanivaspuri.site
- https://otdcpanthanivaspuri.co.in
- www.otdcpanthanivas.in
- https://panthanivaspuri.co.in
- http://thehanscocopalms.in
The Social Media Team of Odisha Crime Branch is actively and continuously monitoring online platforms to detect and take down such fake sites.
The police are actively monitoring the internet and social media to identify and remove such fake platforms. They are also posting warnings and safety tips regularly on their official social media handles like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram under the name @cybercopodisha.
Public Safety Tips:
- Always book through verified platforms like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, or official tourism sites.
- Confirm hotel details through Google Maps and call the hotel directly before paying.
- Avoid paying the full amount in advance; use secure payment methods.
- Request a proper booking confirmation with a valid ID or invoice.
- Be wary of very cheap deals, especially around busy festivals like the Rath Yatra.
- Check recent reviews on trusted sites like Google or TripAdvisor.
The Odisha Police urge everyone to stay alert and report any suspicious websites to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
