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Kochi, Nov 15 (IANS) Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM), the state’s largest tourism industry association, has issued a strong advisory warning domestic and international travelers about the rise in online hotel-booking frauds targeting popular destinations like Kochi and Kumarakom.
The alert comes as Kerala enters its peak tourist season, which sees thousands of tourists from India and abroad.
KTM president Jose Pradeep said the organization has received several complaints from tourists who were duped after making legitimate room reservations through well-known travel-agency websites.
Fraudsters, posing as hotel employees, are contacting guests through phone calls or text messages and attempting to collect advance payments under various pretexts.
According to KTM, scammers often pressure guests to pay immediately, threaten to cancel existing bookings or lure them with offers of upgraded rooms if they make immediate payment.
In many cases, unsuspecting travelers transferred money through QR codes or payment links after fraudsters claiming to be hotel employees sent them fake ID cards.
“Many tourists have reported losing large amounts of money. This worrying trend has forced us to issue a warning to travelers to exercise utmost caution,” Pradeep said.
He advised visitors to call the official phone numbers listed on hotel websites to verify any payment requests before transferring money.
KTM has also urged its member-hotels to tighten digital security measures and monitor their websites, vouchers and communication channels to prevent misuse by cyber criminals.
Hotels are asked to alert customers about possible impersonation attempts and verify all third-party communications associated with bookings.
Established in 2000, Kerala Travel Mart Society brings together the broad spectrum of stakeholders in the state’s tourism sector including hotels, resorts, tour operators and service providers.
With Kerala aiming to cement its position as a leading global tourism destination this winter, KTM says it is important to protect visitors from online scams to maintain the state’s reputation.
The industry body has called on both travelers and hospitality establishments to exercise strict vigilance, stressing that timely verification and awareness remain the most effective tools against online booking fraud.
–IANS
SG/KHz