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Beware of fake Maha Kumbh websites, links

Fraudsters have been targeting gullible residents booking cottages, tents or hotels at Prayagraj
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People going to take a holy dip at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, need to be cautious while booking cottages, tents or hotels as fraudsters have been targeting gullible residents by offering fradulent deals to them. Scamsters have created fake websites and web pages for booking tents or cottages near Triveni Sangam.

The UP police have recently blocked several fake websites after receiving complaints of frauds committed with people on the pretext of such bookings. The miscreants were also arrested by the police who were operating such websites. Interestingly, not only websites, scamsters have also created Facebook or Instagram pages, offering tent bookings at Prayagraj.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Shubham Aggarwal said those visiting Maha Kumbh should take due precautions while booking tent, cottage or any other accomodation. Cyber criminals might resort to various tactics on the pretext of providing such facilities. “The Ludhiana police advise the people to book any accommodation through the official website or channel of the Uttar Pradesh Government only. Do not make any payment to unknown persons else you may fall prey to cyber frauds,” he said.

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The DCP said: “If you fall prey to any such cyber fraud, take immediate action by calling the National Cybercrime Helpline at 1930. Alternatively, you can file a complaint on the official cybercrime portal or at with the cybercrime police station.”

This correspondent also came across one of the fake Facebook pages, ‘Mahakumbh Utsav Tent City’. Interestingly, the page has only one follower and zero likes. During an interaction with the page admin, the person claimed that their agency was government-approved offering premium tents at just 200 m away from the sacred confluence of Triveni Sangam. He offered Rs 1,200 per person per day along with three meals. However, tents near the sangam is not available at such a cheap price that too with three meals. The suspect even asked for advance deposit to reserve the tent and also asked to deposit money in his personal Paytm account. When the admin was asked to send QR code of a company managing tent bookings, the suspect refused. The person sent several pictures of tents and facilities but when asked to arrange a video call to have a glimpse of the same, he refused to do so.

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Guidelines by Uttar Pradesh Govt, police

For a safe and authentic Maha Kumbh experience, it’s essential to rely on official websites and registered service providers. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind while booking accommodation.

Official websites: Use only official websites for Mahakumbh-related information and bookings, such as the official website of the Uttar Pradesh Government (kumbh.gov.in).

Registered hotels and tent cities: Opt for hotels and tent cities registered with the UP Government and local administration. You can find the list of registered hotels and tent cities on the official website of the Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh.

Avoid suspicious links: Be cautious of suspicious links and websites, especially those received through social media or unwanted messages. Verify the authenticity of websites before sharing personal or financial information.

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