New Delhi: Indian authorities have issued a fresh warning against a fake website allegedly selling Taj Mahal tickets online. The advisory follows worries about tourists losing money and providing personal information if they book entry tickets on unofficial websites.
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre’s CyberDost initiative had shared the alert via its Twitter handle. The website allegedly claiming to be a booking site for the Taj Mahal is “ticketstajmahal.com”, according to the advisory. Authorities have warned that these sites may be bearing a strong resemblance to legitimate sites to deceive users into paying.
CyberDost warns against fake booking portals
Cybercriminals are using fake travel and ticket websites more and more to target tourists, according to CyberDost. Users are advised to be cautious when entering payment information and personal information on websites online by checking the website URL thoroughly.
The department also warned customers to be wary of websites offering “fast booking” or ticket discounts that are too good to be true without verification. In the advisory, CyberDost pointed out that the tickets for monument visits must be booked through official and government-approved platforms only.
“Fake booking websites can put both your money and personal data at risk,” the advisory noted.
The agency also called on the victims of cyber fraud to lodge a complaint at the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 or the cybercrime reporting portal immediately.
Users question why the website remains active
Several users on X took the opportunity to comment on the warning, with many wondering why the fake website remained online despite the warning.
Awareness campaigns are helpful, but authorities need to be proactive in shutting down fraudulent websites to stop further individuals from being targeted, one user wrote. Another user provided his own story of a cybercrime victim and enquired if money could be recovered if the victim had filed a cybercrime complaint.
The event has yet again pointed to the increasing danger of bogus travel and booking websites which mimic real travel and booking websites during peak times in the holiday and tourism seasons.
How tourists can stay safe online
Safety professionals say double checking the website addresses before paying online is generally recommended. Visitors are also urged to steer clear of suspicious ads, links, or emails that offer them a ticket deal.
Government authorities advise booking tickets via the official government portals and trusted tour operators. Users should also refrain from giving any personal data, such as banking information, to websites they don’t recognise.
As online travel crime continues to grow, they also say that public awareness is one of the best lines of defence against digital crime.