Kolkata: Police issue pre-puja alert on travel fraud

KOLKATA: City and state police have warned netizens to be careful about sharing banking details on unverified sites and fake websites this festive season. "Since your hard-earned money is involved, always cross-check the websites and wallets where you are transferring your money. Also ensure that you talk directly to the hotels that you book," stated a cyber cell officer at Lalbazar.
"Fake websites are all over the internet through which fraudsters extract money from us. They look similar to a genuine website, but once you check the URL minutely, you might not be the unlucky one. Hence, verify and invest!" the Bengal Police tweeted on Friday.
Cops have recently received complaints of online frauds ahead of Durga Puja. A senior citizen from Joka was recently duped when he made a booking for himself and his wife for a helicopter ride to Badrinath. "He realized he was duped when his receipt showed some major English language errors.
He reconfirmed and found that he was cheated by fraudsters who either hacked in to websites or merely made a look alike of it," said an officer. Fraudsters are duping tourists by posing as hotel agents or floating fake home stays at Darjeeling, Purulia and Chota Mangwa.