The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in Mayapur, located in West Bengal’s Nadia district, registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Friday following a surge in sophisticated online accommodation scams targeting devotees.
The temple management also issued a high-level alert after numerous devotees, both from India and abroad, reported being cheated of large sums by fake booking portals.
According to the police, the matter is being investigated by law enforcement and specialised cybercrime agencies. “We have received an FIR and have initiated an investigation,” said a police officer.
Fraudsters impersonate official booking portals
According to Iskcon officials, scammers have launched websites and WhatsApp channels that closely resemble the organisation’s official accommodation booking system. These platforms falsely claim to offer rooms at popular guest houses such as Prabhupad village, Gada Bhavan, Conch Bhavan, Isodyan, and Gita Bhavan, they said.
They specifically flagged http://www.prabhupadvillage.com as a fraudulent site, stating that several other unauthorised portals are operating with similar deceptive tactics.
“These websites look professional and convincing. They offer rooms during peak festival periods, sometimes promising discounts, and then disappear after collecting the full payment,” said Radharamn Das, Vice-President, Iskcon, Kolkata.
Iskcon officials said the impact of the scam was “distressing,” as families often discover the fraud only after arriving in Mayapur.
“People come with elderly parents and children after long journeys, expecting confirmed rooms, only to find their bookings never existed. This is a serious criminal exploitation of faith and trust,” Das added.
‘Official staff will never pressure visitors’
Iskcon clarified that there is only one authorised portal for all accommodation bookings in Mayapur.
“The public is strictly advised that any bookings made via WhatsApp, private phone calls, or third-party agents are unauthorised. Official staff will never pressure visitors into urgent payments via unofficial links. Payments should only be processed through the verified domain listed above,” Das said.
By lodging the FIR, Iskcon said it hopes to dismantle these digital “traps”, and bring those responsible to justice. Until then, temple authorities said awareness remains the most effective safeguard.
Devotees have been urged to carefully verify website URLs and avoid so-called “special discount” offers from unverified sources to ensure a safe and stress-free pilgrimage.