Dehradun: The rising demand for helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has sparked an increase in fraudulent activities targeting pilgrims. Scammers are capitalizing on the high demand to trick unsuspecting travellers.
The Inspector General of Police (IG) Garhwal’s office revealed, in response to an RTI query, that over the past two years, 26 cases of helicopter ticketing fraud have been reported across various districts including Rudraprayag, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, and Chamoli.
47 Heli-ticketing fraud cases worth Rs 10 lakh as per cyber-crime cell
However, according to data from the cyber-crime cell of Uttarakhand police, a total of 47 Heli-ticketing fraud cases worth Rs 10 lakh were reported during 2023-2024. So far, three individuals have been arrested. Despite the arrests, there has been no recovery in the fraud cases yet. Whereas, 26 cases of helicopter ticketing frauds have been registered in different districts of Uttarakhand including Rudraprayag, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Chamoli over two years in 2023 and 2024, as office of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Garhwal informed in response to an RTI query.
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There are many fake websites with agents who sell fake Kedarnath helicopter tickets
The Kedarnath Helicopter service operates from many places in Kedarnath valley like Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi. However, during peak season, the high demand for bookings opens opportunities for fraudsters to exploit pilgrims by creating fake websites that mimic the official Char Dham booking site. These scammers use various methods, including phone calls, emails, WhatsApp, and text messages, to sell counterfeit helicopter tickets. After receiving payment, they stop responding and vanish. Some even use social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook to directly reach people with false advertisements, creating fake profiles, pages, or groups, and posing as travel agents or representatives of authorized helicopter services.
Modus operandi
Scammers impersonate representatives from well-known agencies such as Himalayan Heli, Pawan Hans, Thumby Aviation, and IRCTC. They offer fake tickets at government-approved rates, promising quick delivery in exchange for personal information. Once they have this information, they demand advance payments through fraudulent QR codes or other methods.
These fraudsters assure pilgrims ticket delivery within 30 minutes
These fraudsters entice victims by claiming they can provide helicopter tickets upon receiving personal details like Aadhaar cards and Yatra registration numbers. They assure ticket delivery within 30 minutes and request a 25% advance payment, with the remaining amount due upon receipt of the tickets.
