With the nine‑day Rath Yatra celebrations underway, Odisha Police’s Cyber Safety and Response Team has stepped up its vigilance in Puri to protect pilgrims, tourists, and locals from online fraud.
The team has already visited six major hotels, sensitising management about the surge in fake booking scams. Hotel websites were assessed, and advisories issued to plug security gaps.
So far, officers have directly interacted with more than 1,290 pilgrims and tourists, distributing pamphlets and spreading awareness about cyber frauds. On July 19, police also registered mobile phone missing complaints on the CEIR portal.
In a significant crackdown, seven fake hotel websites misleading devotees with fraudulent bookings were taken down today.
Odisha Police has appealed to visitors to remain vigilant: “Verify hotel bookings only through genuine and authorised sources. Avoid suspicious links and never share personal or financial details with unverified platforms.”
