Woman Loses Rs 93,600 in Fake Hotel Booking Scam
In today's digital world, online scams are becoming very common. A woman recently lost Rs 93,600 while trying to book a hotel online. Content creator Shreya Mitra shared her experience on Instagram. She was planning a trip to Puri and searched for hotels on Google. She clicked on the first search result for Mayfair Heritage Puri, thinking it was the real hotel website.
The Scam
She called the number listed and discussed booking details. The scammers sent her pictures of the room and convinced her to make the payment. They sent her a fake invoice, but when she asked for an email confirmation, they said their system wasn't working. The next morning, they called her and told her to open the Google Pay app and enter a booking ID. Suspicious, she refused and asked again for an email confirmation. They hung up.
Discovering the Fraud
Ms. Mitra then searched for the real Mayfair Heritage Puri contact details and confirmed the booking. The hotel said the listing she used was fake. She warned others on Instagram, saying the scammers are still active and have multiple bank accounts. She stressed the importance of sharing this information, especially during the holiday season when people are booking hotels.
Aftermath and Support
Ms. Mitra said the money was likely lost, but she was grateful for other things in her life. After her complaint, the fake Google listing was taken down by the Cybercrime department. Her post received a lot of support from other users. Some shared similar experiences. One user suggested making a small transaction first to verify the legitimacy of the vendor. Another praised Ms. Mitra's positive attitude, while others expressed concern about the prevalence of online scams.
Protecting Yourself
This incident highlights the increasing risk of online scams. Always double-check website URLs and contact details before making payments. If something seems suspicious, trust your instincts. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.