As the sacred Rath Yatra 2026 draws near, Puri Police have launched a powerful pre-emptive strike against cyber fraudsters.
In a swift and decisive operation, officers identified and successfully took down 40 fake hotel booking websites along with their linked email accounts that were targeting unsuspecting devotees and tourists.
With hundreds of thousands of devotees expected to arrive in Puri from across India and abroad, police had anticipated a sharp rise in hotel-booking scams. Intensifying cyber surveillance, the Puri Police Cyber Cell detected several bogus websites that were illegally using the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of genuine hotels in Puri.
Cybercriminals were creating these deceptive portals and then contacting potential customers through fake email IDs, collecting advance payments for hotel bookings that never existed. Acting immediately, Puri Police blocked all 40 fake websites and email accounts, preventing what could have been a major wave of fraud in the days leading up to the festival.
SP Puri Prateek Singh said, “The safety and security of devotees is our highest priority during Rath Yatra. We follow a policy of zero tolerance against cybercrime and will continue to take strict action against such offenders.”
Puri Police have issued clear safety guidelines for devotees and tourists:
- Always verify the authenticity of any hotel website before booking
- Book rooms only through the hotel’s official website
- Do not fall for unrealistic discounts or “limited-time” offers
- Confirm all booking details directly with the hotel
- Never transfer money to unknown bank accounts, UPI IDs, or QR codes
Anyone who spots a fake website, suspicious booking link, or cyber fraud is requested to immediately report it to the National Cyber Helpline – 1930 or the Puri Cyber Helpline – 82804 91300.
