Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra (2026) is just a few days away from starting. This time the doors of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22 and the doors of Badrinath will open on April 23. Meanwhile, the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri will open on April 19. Every year, lakhs of people participate in this pilgrimage. Registration is mandatory for this. This year, more than 11.68 lakh people have already registered. Cyber fraudsters are taking advantage of this opportunity. They are targeting devotees through fake websites and calls. They are committing fraud in the name of registration, hotel and helicopter bookings. The police have issued an alert and appealed to travelers to remain vigilant. Lets delve into following points: Expert: Rahul Mishra, Cyber Security Advisor, Uttar Pradesh Police Question- What kind of fraud are cyber scammers committing in the name of Chardham Yatra? Answer- Scammers are targeting people in the name of online registration, hotel and helicopter booking. Let’s understand these one by one Registration Fraud Scammers create fake websites in the name of Chardham Yatra. These look exactly like official portals. People fill in their details on these sites without verification and lose money in the name of ‘registration fees’. Whereas the actual process is free. Hotel Booking Fraud Cyber fraudsters trap devotees by luring them with cheap hotels and attractive packages. After taking advance payment through social media or calls, they provide fake confirmations. See this in the graphic- Helicopter Booking Fraud ‘Limited seats’ and ‘VIP booking’ pressure is created to commit fraud. Fraudsters get immediate payment through fake websites or agents. Later the ticket or booking turns out to be fake. See this in the graphic- Question- Why do people fall into the trap of fraudsters? What mistakes do they make? Answer- During Chardham pilgrimage, devotees make some mistakes in haste, which cyber fraudsters take advantage of. See all mistakes in the graphic- Question- What is the correct way to register online for Chardham Yatra? Answer- For Chardham Yatra registration, always register only through the official portal or app. Keep in mind, if someone is talking about quick registration or VIP pass, it could be a fraud. Understand the correct way to register for Chardham Yatra- Through Website- Second Option Third Option Important Points Question- What is the correct way to book a hotel? Answer- Understand the correct way through pointers- Question- What is the correct way to book a helicopter for the journey? Answer- In the Chardham Yatra, helicopter booking is done for Kedarnath. Understand the process step-by-step- Important Things Question- If you are booking a bus or cab, what things should you keep in mind? Answer- Understand this through pointers- Bus Cab Question- What will happen if you go on Chardham Yatra without registration? Answer- In such a situation, several problems can occur- Question- What to do if you accidentally become a victim of a scam? Answer- In such a situation, immediately call the National Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930.
