Kerala Police issue warning against cyber fraud using fake KTDC hotel booking websites

The Kerala Police have issued a public advisory warning people about cyber fraudsters who create creating fake websites in the name of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) to cheat customers seeking hotel bookings.According to the advisory, fraudsters are primarily targeting users who search on Google using keywords such as “KTDC Stay,” “KTDC Hotels,” “KTDC Booking” and “KTDC Resort.” The fake websites are designed to closely resemble the official KTDC website, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent platforms.The police stated that during the booking process, customers are asked to enter sensitive financial information, including their mobile number, debit or credit card number, expiry date, CVV and the one-time password (OTP) received on their phone. Once such details are submitted, fraudsters can illegally withdraw large sums of money from the victim’s bank account or card.In order to conceal the fraud, the fake websites also generate and display fraudulent booking receipts, giving customers the impression that their reservation has been successfully completed.The advisory cautions that websites appearing at the top of Google search results or links marked as “Sponsored” or “Ad” are not necessarily official. Users are advised to carefully verify the website’s URL before making any payment and ensure there are no spelling variations or suspicious differences.Official websiteThe Kerala Police also urged the public not to share banking credentials or UPI PINs on suspicious websites. Hotel bookings should be made only through KTDC’s official website, mobile application or other authorised booking platforms. Customers should also verify the authenticity of the contact numbers provided on booking websites before proceeding with any transaction.In case of any cyber financial fraud, the victims have been advised to immediately report the incident by calling the national cyber helpline at 1930 or by filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in. Published - July 26, 2026 07:36 pm IST