KTM President Jose Pradeep urged both international visitors and domestic tourists to exercise “extreme caution” when booking online as the inbound tourism season begins.
He indicated that fraudsters have been targeting individuals who have already secured room reservations, attempting to deceive or extort them through phone calls or text messages, especially in key locations such as Kochi and Kumarakom.
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The scammers often pressure guests into making advance payments. Those who refuse or try to withdraw are threatened with cancellation of their bookings or coerced into paying for more expensive rooms immediately, as noted by the KTM Society in their statement.
Typically, these scammers collect funds through QR codes or payment links, having gained the victims’ trust by sending fake identification cards of hotel staff. “Numerous tourists have reported significant financial losses. This has led us (KTM) to issue a warning,” said Jose Pradeep.
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Before making any payments, it is advisable to contact the hotel directly using their official number to confirm the authenticity of the information, he advised. KTM’s member-hotels have been warned to be vigilant against falling victim to such scams involving their websites and vouchers.
Founded in 2000, the KTM is the largest organization representing stakeholders in Kerala’s tourism sector, the statement further noted.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
