Puri: In a bid to protect pilgrims and tourists from online accommodation scams during the Rath Yatra, Puri Police on Friday released a list of 77 verified hotels in the pilgrim town and urged visitors to book rooms only through authentic channels.
The verified list contains the hotels’ official websites, email addresses and contact numbers, allowing devotees to make reservations directly with the establishments and avoid fraudulent booking platforms.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh advised tourists to exercise caution while making online bookings and rely only on the details shared by the police. He also urged visitors to confirm their reservations directly with the hotels before making any payment.
The advisory comes amid a rise in cyber fraud involving fake hotel booking websites targeting pilgrims ahead of the annual festival. According to police, fraudsters have been creating websites impersonating reputed hotels in Puri and luring visitors with attractive offers and discounted tariffs before duping them.
The verified hotel list has been circulated through Puri Police’s official social media platforms along with advisories carrying comprehensive information on accommodation facilities. Police have warned people against booking rooms through third-party links offering suspiciously low prices and cautioned them against transferring money to unknown bank accounts or UPI IDs.
ରଥାଯାତ୍ରା ୨୦୨୬
ସାଇବର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ସଚେତନତା pic.twitter.com/8ZBccIjT4H— Puri Police (@SPPuri1) July 10, 2026
Police said they have so far taken down more than 40 fake hotel booking websites and email IDs allegedly operated by cybercriminals targeting devotees visiting the seaside town for Rath Yatra.
As part of a broader cyber awareness campaign, police have also been sensitising visitors about fake hotel booking portals, fraudulent donation links and phishing attempts. To facilitate quick reporting of fraud or crime, they have shared a WhatsApp chatbot number, 8763199400, and the emergency helpline number, 112.
