Fake website scam in Kollur Mookambika Temple name exposed; devotees duped through QR codes

Kollur Mookambika Temple: A shocking case of online fraud has come to light where cyber criminals created a fake website in the name of the famous Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple and cheated devotees by collecting money in the guise of advance room booking.

According to reports, the fraudsters launched a website under the name “Karnataka Temple Accommodation”, closely resembling the official government site used for temple bookings. They included a QR code and PhonePe payment options to receive money from devotees. After collecting the advance payment, fake receipts were sent to the victims through WhatsApp.

The scam came to light when devotees who made bookings through the fake site arrived at Kollur and found no record of their reservations. The distressed pilgrims brought the issue to the attention of temple authorities, following which a case was registered at the Kollur Police Station. It is suspected that the scammers operated by misusing the name of Lalithambika Guest House, located near the temple premises.

Temple officials have urged devotees to be cautious while making online reservations. The Assistant Executive Officer of the temple clarified that the government operates an official portal for booking accommodations at A-grade temples and that it does not provide any QR code-based payment options. Devotees have been advised to avoid clicking on suspicious links and to use only the verified official government website for bookings.

A similar incident was reported earlier in February 2024, when fraudsters circulated a fake link under the name “Kollur Devotees Trust” through social media platforms to cheat unsuspecting pilgrims. With this new scam surfacing again, temple authorities and devotees have demanded that the government and cybercrime police act swiftly to identify and punish the culprits.

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