Cops’ cyber safety guide for hotel booking in Darj

Kolkata: Be careful of fake websites while booking hotels in popular tourist destinations like Darjeeling, Purulia and Jhargram. Darjeeling SP Praveen Prakash has already issued a warning on the Bengal Police Facebook page, cautioning tourists, who are heading to the Hills to escape the heat, not to fall prey to cyber crooks.
The Darjeeling Police has provided a list of 1,293 hotels and guesthouses in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, Jorebunglow, Rangli Rangliot and Sukhiapokhri among others, which have been checked and authenticated by cops.The list can be accessed on the Darjeeling Police webpage. Cops have also shared emergency numbers, including Darjeeling cyber crime police station, so that any tourist facing trouble or cheated during online transactions can contact them. Prakash said no payment should be made online in the name of an individual; tourists should call and recheck all hotel details through multiple sources before making payments; they should not make full payment at one go and inform cops about fake booking sites.
“If someone looks for any hotel online, the search results show a Google card with websites, contact details and Google map locations. The fraudsters edit these contacts, websites and other contents in the card and dupe people booking a hotel,” said an officer.