SoBo family loses Rs 1.5 lakh to cyber fraudsters running fake ticket website for Kedarnath chopper service

Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand

Thirteen members of a Pedder Road family were left disheartened in Uttarakhand after they were told that their helicopter tickets to Kedarnath were fake. The family had paid Rs 1.55 lakh to buy the tickets from a man who claimed to be from government-owned Pawan Hans which runs chopper services to the hill shrine. The Pydhonie police have launched a probe to track down the scammer. Similar cons were reported earlier.

In their police complaint, the family said they were planning a trip to the iconic Shiva temple and were searching online for the best facility. Their search threw up a link https://chardhamtravelticket.in. The website claimed it provided chopper facility to reach the shrine that sits 11,750ft above sea level in the Himalayan mountains.

The complainant dialled the phone number on the website and spoke with a person who identified himself as a Pawan Hans employee. The man claimed that the website belongs to the chopper company. "He said he would share details of the helicopter with PNR numbers that can be checked online," said a police officer.

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After the man convinced the complainant about the availability of choppers, the latter paid Rs 1,55,000 for 13 members of his family and was provided with tickets. But when they reached Gaurikund in Uttarakhand to use the heli service on August 16, they were told that their tickets were fake. They filed a complaint on return. "Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered to investigate the matter," said Neelotpal, DCP Zone 02.

Cops suspect the accused has been conning pilgrims in the guise of facilitating the Chardham Yatra via chopper. "The accused is already identified. We are collecting more details about the website to ascertain the facts," said an officer from Pydhonie police station. Earlier, in May, a Mulund resident had lost Rs 2.85 lakh to a similar fraud.