Bhubaneswar, July 18 -- The Cyber Crime Unit of the Odisha CID, Crime Branch has blocked 121 fake hotel websites, 33 fraudulent hotel webpages, and removed 19 misleading online contents linked to the Puri Rath Yatra as part of a massive crackdown on cyber fraud targeting pilgrims.
Official sources at the Odisha Police Headquarters said the preventive drive was carried out between June 1 and July 18 to safeguard the lakhs of devotees visiting Puri for the annual Rath Yatra from online scams involving fake hotel bookings, transport services and other fraudulent offers.
With devotees increasingly relying on online platforms to book accommodation and travel, cyber criminals attempted to exploit the festive rush through fake hotel websites, bo...