SGPC warns devotees against booking Amritsar-based sarais through fake websites

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 1

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has lodged a complaint with the police against unknown persons who allegedly duped a devotee on the pretext of booking his accommodation prior to his visit to the Golden Temple.

Bhagwant Singh, manager of the Golden Temple, said that a case under Section 420 and 66-D of IT Act has been lodged with the cyber crime cell of Amritsar police.

“We came across a devotee who had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and approached the Saragarhi Sarai officials claiming his advance booking of the accommodation. He claimed to have booked the accommodation by paying through an online website, which was found to be fake,” he said.

Earlier also, there have been instances when the devotees, especially those from outstation and overseas, were defrauded by the swindlers.

SGPC (Sarai) manager Gurpreet Singh said that fake web portals with pictures of the Golden Temple and sarais run by the SGPC have been active on the internet.

The miscreants, through the bogus portal, ask for payment between Rs 850- Rs 4,200 via online wallet/QR code in advance. As soon as the payment is made, their phone numbers become defunct.

“This was not the only case. At least 8-10 cases have come to light in the past where the devotees were looted online through fake websites,” he said.

The SGPC has posted a notice on its official website www.sgpcsarai.com alerting the devotees against the fraud sites.

“The booking has to be done only through our official website. The payment is only between Rs 500-Rs 1,100 fixed for various sarais. We never ask for any payment through QR code or online transaction link from any other platform,” he said.

He said that earlier also, another bogus website Bharatibiz.com and Saragarhisaraihotel.com operated which used to commit online frauds in the name of booking accommodation at Saragarhi Sarai. “We got them deactivated, yet the miscreants appeared to have created a fake website with another name. An investigation is on to nab the culprits,” he said.

He said that these phishing sites are cleverly designed to mimic the official SGPC websites, complete with professional layouts, logos and even fake reviews to create an illusion of authenticity. “The victims are usually asked to make an advance payment ranging from Rs 850 to Rs 4,200 through online wallets or QR codes. Once the payment is made, the contact numbers provided by these scammers become non-reachable, leaving the victims with no booking and resulting in loss of money,” he said.

The SGPC and local police authorities have been working to combat these fraudulent activities, yet public awareness is the first line of defence.

The SGPC on its website has posted a note of caution which says: Upon Google search, room booking should be done only from www.sgpcsarai.com. www.sgpcsarai.com is official website for room booking at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Darbar Sahib. Room booking should be done from this website only. Payment should not be made through any mobile number/QR code or online transaction from any other platform. 50 per cent advance payment for room booking at Saragarhi Niwas or other Sarais (inn) is not demanded.

Beware of online frauds; no separate payment is taken for room booking at Sri Darbar Sahib through any individual or online mode.