Kerala Travel Mart Cautions Tourists Against Online Booking Scams

Kerala Travel Mart Society has issued a warning to tourists about online fraudsters operating in popular tourist destinations. The industry body reported cases of travellers being targeted by fake travel agencies in Kochi and Kumarakom.

KTM President Jose Pradeep urged both international and domestic tourists to exercise extreme caution with online deals as the peak tourism season begins. He confirmed several tourists have lost significant amounts to these scams.

"Several tourists have complained of losing huge sums," said Jose Pradeep, President of Kerala Travel Mart Society. "This has made us to issue a message of extreme caution. Before making any payment, it is ideal to call the official phone number of the hotel directly to verify the authenticity of the information."

The fraudsters typically contact guests who have made room reservations, demanding advance payments through QR codes or payment links. They use fake hotel employee identification cards to appear legitimate and threaten booking cancellations if payments are not made. Pradeep advised travellers to directly contact hotels using official phone numbers to verify payment requests before transferring any money.

The organisation has alerted its member hotels about these scams targeting their websites and booking vouchers. The warning comes as the state prepares for its peak tourism season with increased visitor numbers expected in popular destinations.