Cyber fraudsters target travellers through fake hotel booking portals

With online booking of vacations and weekend getaways becoming increasingly popular, travellers must exercise caution. A new breed of cybercriminals is preying on unsuspecting online shoppers by creating fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate hotel and resort portals, and scamming them.

Online scams are on the rise, and Priya Devi, a 45-year-old resident of Pazhavanthangal, became one of the latest victims. In December 2024, she lost ₹22,000 while attempting to book a hotel for a trip to Puducherry. Devi searched for hotels on Google and called a number listed on a website that appeared legitimate. The person on the other end confirmed that the stay and initially requested a partial payment. However, he soon insisted on full payment, citing high demand for rooms. Devi complied, transferring the amount in two installments. When the fraudster demanded a single transaction, she grew suspicious —especially after he abruptly switched from English to Hindi during their conversation.

Sensing something was wrong, Devi’s husband contacted the actual hotel, only to discover that the listed number was fraudulent. Another guest had already reported a similar scam, prompting the hotel to issue a fraud alert. When Devi attempted to call the scammer using a different number, he repeated the same script before turning off his phone. Despite alerting her bank, the money had already been withdrawn. She immediately filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell.

P. Nagaraja, the South District Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Bengaluru, also fell victim to online fraudsters while booking a resort in Chennai. Last month, as he planned a weekend trip with his family, a website for a well-known resort in Neelankarai appeared in his Google search results. The site seemed genuine, providing hotel details, sightseeing spots, and other relevant information. Trusting it, Nagaraja contacted the number listed and was informed that due to high demand, an upfront payment was necessary to secure a booking.

Initially, he transferred ₹2,000, but he received no confirmation. When he followed up, the caller insisted that he pay the remaining ₹6,000. Hoping to finalise the booking, Nagaraja complied. However, the scammer then claimed that the system did not accept payments in multiple transactions and requested another lump-sum payment. Shortly after, the fraudster became unresponsive.

Realising something was amiss, Nagaraja got in touch with another contact number through Google, only to learn from the actual resort staff that he had been conned.

According to the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing, at least 50 similar complaints have been registered in recent months. A senior officer noted that in most cases, victims only report the crime after the scammers have already withdrawn the money. “If complaints reach us in time, we immediately freeze the recipient’s account and attempt to recover the money,” the officer said. “Unfortunately, many fraudsters operate from locations like Delhi, making it challenging to trace them. However, efforts are underway to track down those involved.”

Cybercrime experts warn that with the proliferation of new hotels in the market, travellers must verify the authenticity of their bookings before making payments. “Fraudsters are now creating or cloning legitimate-looking hotel booking websites, luring tourists with seemingly attractive deals. Regardless of the platform or the appeal of the offers, verification is crucial,” said Sankarraj Subramanian, a Cyber Crime Expert.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, Sankarraj Subramanian, a cyber crime expert, recommend that travellers take the following precautions: firstly, verify that the hotel exists, verify location through Google maps and call the numbers listed on the official website. Checking the customer reviews on the hotel’s Google Business page might be helpful, and always refuse to make full advance payments.