17 minutes agoAuthor: Sandeep Singh
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TV But this time the holidays of Archana Puran Singh, who were always seen laughing and laughing, became bitter memory due to a cyber fraud. During the family trip in Dubai, he booked tickets for online indoor skidving. But when she reached there with the family with full enthusiasm, the shocking truth came out that the booking was never done. Later investigation revealed that the website from which tickets were booked was fake.
This case is not limited to just one celebrity. Every day thousands of people are falling prey to similar fake websites and online scams from holiday planning to shopping, tickets and hotel booking. Before every click in the digital world, it is now necessary to be vigilant, otherwise the happiness of a trip can also become a sorrow of cheating.
So let’s Cyber literacy Today in the column, we will know what should be kept in mind while booking online travel. Will also know that-
- How to identify fake website or app?
- How to differentiate between real and fake platforms?
Expert: Rajesh Dandotia, Additional DCP, Crime Branch, Indore
Question- How do scammers trap people in travel booking scam?
answer- Online travel scams are being done in a very vicious way nowadays. Scammers resort to fake websites, social media advertisements or fake booking platforms seen in Google search. These websites look exactly like real travel sites. On these, you see attractive offers such as’ 70% discount only today for today ‘,’ Last Minute Deal or ‘Confirm Booking Bidout OTP’. Fake reviews and fake user testimonials are used to assure. As soon as the user pays on them, a fake ticket is sent.
Question- How can a travel booking website be real or fake, how can we identify it?
answer- Additional DCP (Crime Branch) of Indore Rajesh Dandotia explains that scammers make similar names with the real website, such as changing a letter or making a difference in spelling. Therefore, after visiting any website, see ‘https’ and lock symbol in the URL. If the website does not start with ‘https’ or there is no lock icon, then it is not safe. Apart from this, search the name of the website on Google or social media before booking. If he is fake then someone must have warned about him in advance. Apart from this, understand some more precautions from the graphic below-
Question- What should be kept in mind while booking online travel?
answer- While booking online travel, it is most important that you use only official or well-known websites. Also read the review and rating of the website. Do not pay without getting confirmation on any website. It is always more secure to pay with credit cards instead of UPI or bank transfer as it is more likely to have more chances of recovery.
Question- What are the red flags of such scams, which should not be ignored?
answer- Rajesh Dandotia of Indore Crime Branch says that if a website is giving a very cheap deal like ‘70% discount for today’ or ‘2 seats left’ then be careful. If the website is only taking payment from bank transfer and there is no other way, then it is also a sign of danger. Also, if you see wrong language, incomplete information or strange links on the website, then leave it immediately. These are all clear signs of scams.
Question- Can tickets from fake website look real?
answer- Yes, scammers send such tickets many times, which look very real. It also contains booking ID, QR code and email confirmation. But all this is fake. When you reach the spot, then it is known that the booking was not real. Therefore, even after getting tickets, it is very important to check the website and the company first.
Question- Is every website seen on Google is reliable?
answer- Google’s algorithm decides which website will appear first, but it does not guarantee being reliable. Scammers also adopt the trick of SEO (search engine optimization) and bring their fake website up to Google. So do not rely on any website just by appearing on Google on top. Always read its URL carefully, check the review, and see if the real information of the company is given on the website.
Question- Is it safe to book from mobile apps?
answer- Yes, if you download the travel app directly from Google Play Store or Apple App Store, they are usually safe. But if an app asks to download from a link, SMS or third party website, it can be dangerous. So before installing the app, do check some things. Such as-
- How many people have downloaded the app.
- How is his rating and user reviews.
- Whether the information of the developer is correct and clear or not.
Question- Is recovery possible in ticketing scam?
answer- Yes, if you complain on time, the money can be returned in some cases. Especially if the payment is done with credit card, then there is more chance of recovery. Recovery may be a bit difficult if there is a payment from bank transfer or UPI, but must try. Follow these methods for complaints.
- Call cyber helpline 1930. This is the official emergency line of the government. The sooner you call, the more recovery opportunity increases.
- Enter online complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in. Here you can file a complaint with your complete details.
- Give immediate information to the customer service of the app or bank with which the payment has been made.
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