Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Kerala Travel Mart Warns Tourists of Online Hotel Booking Scams
Imagine you're planning a fun trip to Kerala.
Some sneaky people are pretending to be hotels online and are trying to trick travelers.
They might call you or send texts after you've already booked a room.
These tricksters ask you to pay them extra money, sometimes by sending a special code or a payment link.
They even send fake IDs to look real!
If you don't pay, they might say they'll cancel your room or make you pay for a fancier room.
The Kerala Travel Mart wants everyone to be super careful.
Before you pay anything, it's best to call the hotel directly using their real phone number to make sure everything is okay.
This way, you can enjoy your trip without losing your money to these bad guys.
Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM) cautioned tourists about online hotel booking fraud.
Fraudsters are targeting tourists who have already made reservations, especially in Kochi and Kumarakom.
Scammers attempt to extort money by demanding advance payments through QR codes or payment links after gaining trust with fake credentials.
Tourists are threatened with booking cancellation or pressured to pay for higher-category rooms if they do not comply.
KTM advises travelers to call hotels directly to verify booking authenticity before making any payments.
- Who
- The Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM), a leading tourism industry body
- What
- Issued a warning to tourists about online hotel booking fraud targeting visitors to Kerala.
- When
- On Saturday
- Where
- Kerala, particularly in destinations like Kochi and Kumarakom
- Why
- Due to an increase in cases where fraudsters mislead or extort tourists, demanding advance payments and threatening booking cancellations.
Fraudsters
Tourists
Payment Demands
Fraudsters
Fraudsters coerce tourists into making advance payments, often through QR codes or payment links after gaining trust with fake employee IDs.
Tourists
Tourists are urged to be extremely cautious and verify information directly with hotels before making any payments, to avoid losing money.
Threats and Extortion
Fraudsters
Scammers threaten booking cancellations or pressure guests to pay for higher-category rooms if they refuse or try to back out of fraudulent demands.
Tourists
Tourists who have already made reservations are being targeted with misleading calls or texts to extort them.
- Organization
- Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM)
- Warning Issued
- Saturday
- Target Audience
- International and domestic tourists visiting Kerala
- Affected Locations
- Kochi and Kumarakom cited as examples
- Scam Method
- Online fraud targeting hotel bookings, involving fake employee IDs, QR codes, and payment links
- Recommended Action
- Call the official hotel number directly to verify booking authenticity before payment