Beware of fake helicopter services, warn police amid Char Dham rush

With the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, cyber fraudsters have become increasingly active, targeting pilgrims through fake helicopter booking services, fraudulent travel packages and suspicious WhatsApp links. The police have issued an advisory urging devotees to remain vigilant while making bookings for the pilgrimage, especially for premium helicopter services.

The Char Dham Yatra by helicopter is among the most sought-after pilgrimage packages, enabling devotees to visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri conveniently within a short duration. Taking advantage of the growing demand, scammers are luring unsuspecting pilgrims through fake websites, deceptive advertisements and WhatsApp messages offering attractive packages and discounted rates.

According to police officials, fraudsters first contact people through text messages or social media platforms and persuade them to click on suspicious booking links. Once accessed, these links can compromise users’ devices and steal sensitive financial information such as bank account details, passwords and OTPs. In several cases, scammers have also gained access to personal data, including contact lists, photographs and videos, which can later be misused for identity theft.

Apart from helicopter bookings, fake operators are also advertising hotel reservations and tour packages linked to the Char Dham pilgrimage. A senior police officer said complaints related to such cyber frauds are being received regularly, indicating a sharp rise in online scams during the pilgrimage season.

He said many devotees fall prey due to lack of awareness regarding authorised booking platforms and often rely on random internet searches or links shared through social media. Fraudsters exploit this gap by creating fake websites resembling genuine booking portals and offering lucrative deals to attract customers.

The police have advised people not to trust unknown links or offers that appear unusually cheap or attractive. Devotees have been urged to make bookings only through authorised platforms and verified service providers. For helicopter bookings related to the Char Dham Yatra, pilgrims have been advised to use the official IRCTC portal only — IRCTC HeliYatra Portal.