Police Team Departs for Delhi to Track Scam Servers
A special police team from Trichy departed for north India on Saturday to trace suspects behind an inter-state online booking scam that has targeted devotees seeking accommodation at the Yatri Nivas attached to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. Many devotees are unaware that the facility does not accept online bookings.
The team, led by a cybercrime inspector, includes three other police personnel. “Their first stop will be Delhi, from where they will assess the location of the servers of the accused, and then proceed to the required destination. Over the last 30 days, we have closely tracked and monitored various websites that keep resurfacing. We have also made arrangements to ensure proper coordination with the local police in those states,” said a senior police official.
Scam Ongoing Since December 2024, FIR Filed Only in May
The scam, first reported by TOI on August 13 last year, has been ongoing since December 2024. However, no FIR was filed until HR&CE minister S Ramesh lodged a complaint with Trichy city cybercrime police on May 20 this year.
Police have blocked hundreds of fake websites, but new ones continue to surface. “On the day the minister lodged the complaint, four fake websites were active. A new website appeared even on June 19 and was blocked,” said a cybercrime police source. A TOI check on June 20 showed at least three active websites.
How the Scam Operates
Some victims, hailing from other states, told TOI that the scammers targeted people searching online for ‘guest house bookings in Srirangam’. Drawn in by images of the serene accommodation facility, unsuspecting devotees would enter their phone numbers on the fake websites. Soon afterwards, they would receive a WhatsApp message from a mobile number directing them to make the payment.
“The scammer even calls back after that for an additional payment towards 16% GST,” said a source, recounting the experience of a victim. Several victims have taken to social media to describe how they were cheated of amounts ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹1 lakh.
Experts Warn Arrests Alone Won't Stop Scam
Cybercrime experts said a few arrests won’t stop the scam. “Without an official website, fake booking portals will continue to mushroom. The government should urgently announce that there are no online bookings,” said K M Vijaya Kumar, secretary of Cyber Society of India.
Asked if they plan to launch a website of their own, HR&CE commissioner T G Vinay told TOI, “Yatri Nivas is currently being run by TTDC and HR&CE departments under an MoU. We are reviewing the arrangement itself. We are collecting relevant data, following which we will take a suitable decision shortly.”
