Kedarnath Helicopter Ticket Booking Fraud

An Emerging Scam Targeting Pilgrims

Kedarnath Helicopter service is available from Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi as an easier and quicker option to reach the divine adobe of lord Shiva, Kedarnath. However, during the peak season, the high demand for helicopter bookings allows fraudsters to take advantage of pilgrims by creating fake websites that resemble the official Char Dham Heli Booking website. These scammers collect booking payments from pilgrims, but when the day of the yatra arrives, they disappear entirely. This is how they deceive pilgrims, leaving them without their bookings.

Nowadays, these frauds and scams are increasing day by day, and many pilgrims are getting scammed by purchasing helicopter tickets that don't exist. It has become more crucial for pilgrims to understand how these fraudulent schemes operate and how they can avoid falling victim to these scams and protect themselves from these scammers.

How the Kedarnath Heli Ticket Scam Operates

1. Fake Websites: Fraudsters create fake websites that look like official heli booking sites of helicopter operating companies. These fraudulent sites use domain names that sound similar to the real ones, making it difficult for people to recognize the official website. As a result, travelers can easily get scammed by these frauds.
2. Fraudsters posing as Travel Agents: There are many fake websites with agents who sell fake Kedarnath helicopter tickets through phone calls, emails, Whatsapp or text messages. Once the customer makes the payment, these scammers stop answering calls and completely disappear.
3. Social Media Scams: Nowadays, social media has the power of advertising, and scammers take advantage of this by using platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp to spread false advertisements or reach out to people directly. They create fake profiles, pages, or groups, act as travel agents or representatives of authorized helicopter services.

Impact  on Pilgrims

Pilgrims who come to seek blessings at the revered Kedar Temple, when they learn about these scams, face not only financial loss but also deep emotional pain as their religious sentiments are hurt. Realizing they have been fooled and can no longer fulfill their spiritual journey as planned. Furthermore, when they reach the heli point and discover the scam, it becomes nearly impossible to purchase a helicopter ticket at that time, especially during the busy pilgrimage season.

Protect yourself from getting Scammed

Please note that the helicopter tickets for Kedarnath from Sirsi/ Phata or Guptkashi can only be booked online through the IRCTC website https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ . No other website, agent or organization is authorized to book these tickets. 

Below are some tips for pilgrims to ensure that they do not get trapped to fraudulent schemes when booking Kedarnath helicopter tickets:

1. Book Tickets from IRCTC Website only: Always book helicopter tickets through the government’s official helicopter booking site. Avoid any third-party websites or travel agents, no matter how professional they talk or how good they appear, and especially when they give you discounts during the peak season.
2. Avoid Agents: If someone contacts you claiming to be an agent or representative of helicopter services, it’s best to avoid them. Many a times, the scamsters mention themselves as the staff or accredited partners of IRCTC as well. Beware, there are no authorised agents to sell these tickets.
3. Report Suspicious Activity: If you come across any website or individual you find suspicious, do not engage with it and report it to the authorities immediately. The faster fraudulent operations are shut down, the fewer people they can deceive.
4. Do Not Rush: When you visit any website, take your time to verify the authenticity of the service before making a payment. Don’t rush into payments or further steps. Fraudsters often create a false sense of urgency. If you feel anything suspicious, do not make payments or book tickets.

Uttarakhand government, along with the Civil Aviation Department, have increased their efforts to stop this scam. Due to the increasing number of fraudulent incidents, several actions have been implemented to protect the pilgrims from scammers.

1. Official Website for Booking: Authorities have clearly stated that all helicopter bookings for Kedarnath must be done through the official portal: https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in. To ensure that pilgrims are not duped by unauthorized operators, this platform is the only trustworthy option for purchasing helicopter tickets.
2. Awareness Campaigns: The government and law enforcement agencies have now introduced public awareness campaigns to inform pilgrims about the dangers of fraudulent booking sites. Messages are communicated through various media channels, including social media platforms, newspapers, different advertisements, and newspapers, advising pilgrims to use only official platforms for Helicopter ticket bookings.
3. Legal Action: Tracking down these scammers can be challenging, especially when their operations are run from different regions or involve advanced technology. However, law enforcement agencies are actively investigating these fraud cases and arresting those involved in running fake websites and illegal ticket services.
4. Banning of Scam Websites: A special task force has been hired to monitor fake websites and block those that fraudulently claim to offer Kedarnath helicopter tickets.

What  to do if you have been scammed?

If you get scammed, report it to your nearest police station as soon as possible. You can also file the complaint online at Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in. Make sure you have all the evidence, as it will help make it easier to catch the fraudsters.

Chartered Heli Service for Kedarnath - Badrinath & Char Dham

Apart from the Kedarnath helicopter services from Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi, which are affordable for pilgrims, some private operators also offer Do Dham and Char Dham helicopter tours for those who wish to fly from Dehradun. However, these chartered helicopter services are much costlier and start at Rs.1,10,000 per person for Same Day Kedarnath + Badrinath Helicopter Tour ex Dehradun and go on to Rs. 2,35,000 per person for 5 Nights Char Dham Heli Tour Package from Dehradun.

These Heli Services for Do Dham and Char Dham are provided by various private heli companies and tour operators. Unlike Kedarnath Helicopter Service which operates from Sirsi, Phata or Guptkashi, chartered services are available for Dehradun only. You can book one or more seats on sharing basis as per your need. The most popular of these tours include Same Day Kedarnath Badrinath service from Dehradun which departs in the morning for Dehradun and returns the same evening. These tours are luxury tours where all necessary arrangements for VIP darshan, food and stay is taken care by the tour operators.

Caution while booking Luxury Heli Tours from Dehradun

While making a booking for Do Dham or Char Dham Helicopter Tour, be sure 

1. Research about the credibility of the company before booking your tour. Many fraudster have been offering similar services at unrealistic lower prices to lure customers.

2. Always prefer to book your heli tour with a registered travel company instead of an individual agent.

3. Never make payments to any individual's account. Insist for making payment to the company's bank account only or through the official websites of such trusted travel company. 

Do Dham Helicopter Tour Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter