Chardham Yatra 2026: Planning a Chardham Yatra? Beware of fake booking scams..

Chardham Yatra 2026: Every year, lakhs of devotees from across the country embark on the Chardham Yatra. This year, the Chardham Yatra 2026 is set to commence on April 19th. On this very day, the portals of the Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines will also be opened for devotees. While the number of devotees surges during the Chardham Yatra, scammers and fraudsters also become highly active during this period. Reports of people being defrauded through fake registrations, bogus hotel bookings, and counterfeit helicopter tickets surface almost daily.

Consequently, the risk of devotees falling victim to fraud increases significantly. If you, too, are planning to undertake the Chardham Yatra this year, this information is crucial for you. Today, we will explain how you can protect yourself from scams and what precautions you should take while making bookings. Let's explore the essential tips and tricks related to this. This information was recently shared by the Indian Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Center via a post on 'X'.

How Do Scammers Lure People?
During the Chardham Yatra, scams involving fake helicopter and hotel bookings witness a sharp rise. Operating under the guise of online registrations, hotel reservations, and helicopter bookings, scammers target individuals through fraudulent websites and advertisements. These websites are designed to look exactly like the official portals—appearing completely authentic—making it difficult for the average person to distinguish between the genuine site and the fake one. Subsequently, fraudulent agents contact individuals via phone calls or WhatsApp, creating a sense of urgency by pressuring them with claims of "limited seats" or "VIP bookings," causing people to fall into the trap easily.

Following this, the scammers request personal details, including Aadhaar numbers and travel information. They then pressure individuals to make payments via UPI. In such scenarios, once the payment is made, neither is any booking confirmed, nor is any service provided. Furthermore, the individuals' personal details end up being compromised and shared with the scammers.

Follow These Tips and Tricks to Avoid Scammers
To safeguard yourself against any form of scam or fraud, be sure to follow the tips and tricks listed below. Make bookings exclusively through official government websites or authorized platforms.
Always verify that the website URL contains ".gov".
Do not trust any social media platform—including WhatsApp or Instagram—or any unfamiliar links.
Do not make payments to any agent without proper verification.
Furthermore, if you fall victim to fraud, immediately call 1930 or report the incident at cybercrime.gov.in.

What are the official websites?
https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/

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