Incident Overview
- The supplied post reports that police in Ahmedabad arrested two alleged operators accused of running 126 fake booking websites impersonating hotels, dharamshalas, ashrams and trusts.
- The post says the sites copied legitimate establishments' names, photos and designs, or created websites for establishments that did not have an online presence.
How the Scam Worked
- Google Search / Ads → Fake Hotel or Religious Stay Website → Victim Searches for Accommodation → Booking Form → Advance Payment → Fake Reception Manager → No Booking / No Room.
- According to the supplied post, one accused allegedly collected booking enquiries through Gmail and forwarded them via WhatsApp, while the other posed as a reception manager and collected advance payments.
Incident at a Glance
- 126 fake websites.
- Approximately 21,985 people allegedly cheated.
- 11 states/UTs affected.
- 70+ complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- 41 fake sites reportedly operated around Gujarat, 27 in Uttarakhand and 18 in Andhra Pradesh.
- Police reportedly recovered a spreadsheet containing the 126 sites, along with cPanel access and WhatsApp chats.
Investigation Indicators Reported
- A spreadsheet containing 126 fake website records.
- cPanel access.
- Gmail accounts used for booking enquiries.
- WhatsApp communication.
- Google Search / advertising infrastructure.
- Fake hotel, dharamshala, ashram and trust websites.
How to Protect Yourself
- Search for the establishment independently.
- Check Google Maps reviews and official contact details.
- Call the property using a number obtained independently.
- Verify the website domain carefully.
- Be suspicious of websites appearing only through advertisements.
- Avoid paying to personal UPI or bank accounts.
- Compare the property's website with established booking platforms.
- Never trust a website simply because it has professional photos and branding.
Source note: This research page expands the corresponding CyberRakshak Labs LinkedIn post supplied by the author. Claims and figures in the incident sections are presented as reported in that source post.