Dehradun: As thousands of devotees prepare for the sacred Char Dham Yatra, cybercriminals are exploiting their faith by creating fake websites and social media pages offering fraudulent helicopter ticket bookings to Kedarnath Dham. In response, the Uttarakhand Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has launched an aggressive crackdown on this growing menace.
Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and under the guidance of DGP Uttarakhand Deepam Seth, the STF is executing one of India’s most sustained cybercrime clean-up efforts. Coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the operation has successfully blocked hundreds of digital assets used by fraudsters.
Massive cybercrime cleanup underway
In 2025, the Uttarakhand Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has executed a major cybercrime crackdown, successfully blocking 51 fake websites, disabling 111 fraudulent mobile numbers, freezing 56 suspicious bank accounts, and reporting 30 WhatsApp numbers linked to scams. These aggressive actions have protected hundreds of pilgrims from falling victim to fraudulent helicopter ticket bookings for Kedarnath Yatra, reinforcing digital security and safeguarding public trust.
Key strategies include:
Legal Notices to Meta: DIG Law & Order Dhirendra Gunjyal, appointed as the nodal officer under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, has been issuing legal takedown notices to Meta, compelling the removal of fraudulent content.
Meta Coordination: Close collaboration with Meta’s Nodal Officer Ashwin Madhusudan has led to the removal of scam Facebook pages and paid ads.
Cross-platform targeting: WhatsApp, bank portals, mobile service providers, and hosting services have all been engaged to eliminate scam networks.
Google’s past compliance: Building on 2024’s success, where STF efforts led Google to restrict ads related to “Kedarnath heli ticket booking”, similar policy changes are now being pursued with Meta.
Preventing Future Scams: Policy Coordination & Public Awareness
Beyond enforcement, the STF is advocating for policy-level interventions
Letters sent to Meta to implement keyword-based ad restrictions, mirroring Google’s approach in 2024.
Efforts to implement AI moderation tools for fraudulent content filtering on social platforms.
Public advisory warning pilgrims against fraudulent helicopter ticket booking
The Uttarakhand Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has issued a public advisory warning pilgrims against fraudulent helicopter ticket booking websites for Kedarnath Dham. Officials emphasized that IRCTC is the only authorized booking partner, advising devotees to avoid Facebook ads and suspicious websites. They urged the public to report any fraudulent content to ccps.deh@uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in and immediately contact the 1930 Cyber Helpline in case of financial fraud. These measures aim to safeguard pilgrims from cyber scams and ensure secure bookings for their sacred journey.
A safer pilgrimage through vigilance & collaboration
In an era where even sacred pilgrimages are vulnerable to cyber fraud, the Uttarakhand Police’s STF stands out as a model of digital vigilance and enforcement. Through relentless monitoring, inter-agency coordination, and rapid action, they are safeguarding the faith and finances of thousands of pilgrims.
