TTD Battles Surge In Fraudulent Websites And Apps For Pilgrims
23 Aug 2025 12:21 AM IST23 Aug 2025 12:21 AM IST
Pune-based devotee was left disappointed after he fell victim to a fake website while planning his recent visit to Tirumala.
TTD (Image:DC)
TIRUPATI: A Pune-based devotee was left disappointed after he fell victim to a fake website while planning his recent visit to Tirumala.
The devotee booked special entry darshan tickets for his family, paying Rs 3,000 through a link shared on WhatsApp. However, on arrival at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, he learned that the invoice was fake. With no valid booking, his family was denied darshan. Their long-planned pilgrimage turned into a frustrating experience.
His case highlights a growing problem faced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and its devotees.
In recent years, the trust has been combating a surge in the number of fraudulent websites and apps designed to mimic official TTD platforms. These portals target unsuspecting pilgrims, offering them special entry darshan tickets, arjitha sevas, accommodation and laddu prasadam in exchange for money.
Officials described this as a multi-crore fake ticket racket.
TTD’s IT officials explained that fraudsters created websites with names resembling Tirumala, TTD, Lord Venkateswara, or Balaji. These sites are often indexed on search engines, appearing alongside the official TTD website when devotees do a net-search using certain keywords. For example, a fraudulent URL like https://tirupatibalaji-ap-gov.org/ closely resembles the official https://tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in .
The problem becomes particularly acute when official quotas for darshan or accommodation are exhausted. Desperate devotees seeking alternatives are misled into making payments on fake platforms that falsely show ticket availability.
TTD has repeatedly cautioned devotees to verify URLs carefully and book tickets only through the official website or mobile app, by paying proper attention to security features.
“Devotees should be aware of the key security steps to protect themselves. Using search engine optimization, we ensure they reach the official TTD site. We are also deploying tools to detect fake websites and apps in real time,” an IT official said.
To further safeguard pilgrims, TTD is using SEO and advanced brand management tools to identify and block fraudulent websites and apps.
TTD chairman BR Naidu stated that over 30,000 fake websites and apps have been shut down the past year. To counter the threat, the IT wing of TTD has coordinated with AP technology services, the ministry of electronics and IT, domain registrars, web-hosting companies and payment gateway providers to identify and shut down fake platforms.
The AP forensic cyber cell has also taken action against such websites.
TTD is also grappling with social media misuse, with fake accounts impersonating top officials and spreading misinformation. A recent case involved a fraudulent Facebook profile in the name of executive officer J Syamala Rao soliciting money from devotees. Earlier issues included fake platforms offering laddu prasadam, jobs and misleading YouTube channels.
TTD has urged devotees to rely solely on its official website and verified social media accounts, and to report suspicious activity at 98668 98630 or 1800 425 4141.
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A few fake Tirumala darshan websites to watch out for:
ttdtickets.com, ttddarshan.com, Tirupatibalajidarshantickets.co.in , tirupatibalajidarshanbooking.com , ttdbalajidarshan.com , myspiritualyatra.com, tirupatibalajidarshan.co.in , tirupatibalajidarshan.org , mybalaji.in , bookingtirupatidarshan.com , templeyatri.com, tirupatibalajitemple.com , tirupatibalajidarshanbooking.in , tirupatitourism.in , tirupatitourismseva.com , padmavathitravels.in, tirupatidarshanbooking.org .
Examples of devotee-targeted online frauds:
-The Tirumala police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Kothacheruvu for impersonating TTD officials using a fake email and phone number. He created a counterfeit Gmail ID resembling the TTD executive officer’s official account and manipulated Google search results, while listing his number on Truecaller as ‘TTD JEO Office Tirumala’ to deceive the devotees.
-A 32-year-old devotee from Hyderabad lost `4,500 after booking accommodation through a website claiming to be affiliated with TTD. On reaching Tirumala, he was told there was no booking under his name. TTD officials said such fake platforms exploit pilgrims when the official quotas are full.
- A Chennai-based pilgrim received a WhatsApp message from a number claiming to be from the TTD helpdesk, seeking advance payment to secure darshan tickets and Srivari laddu prasadam. Officials clarified that TTD does not solicit payments via WhatsApp and warned devotees to ignore such messages.
His case highlights a growing problem faced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and its devotees.
In recent years, the trust has been combating a surge in the number of fraudulent websites and apps designed to mimic official TTD platforms. These portals target unsuspecting pilgrims, offering them special entry darshan tickets, arjitha sevas, accommodation and laddu prasadam in exchange for money.
Officials described this as a multi-crore fake ticket racket.
TTD’s IT officials explained that fraudsters created websites with names resembling Tirumala, TTD, Lord Venkateswara, or Balaji. These sites are often indexed on search engines, appearing alongside the official TTD website when devotees do a net-search using certain keywords. For example, a fraudulent URL like https://tirupatibalaji-
The problem becomes particularly acute when official quotas for darshan or accommodation are exhausted. Desperate devotees seeking alternatives are misled into making payments on fake platforms that falsely show ticket availability.
TTD has repeatedly cautioned devotees to verify URLs carefully and book tickets only through the official website or mobile app, by paying proper attention to security features.
“Devotees should be aware of the key security steps to protect themselves. Using search engine optimization, we ensure they reach the official TTD site. We are also deploying tools to detect fake websites and apps in real time,” an IT official said.
To further safeguard pilgrims, TTD is using SEO and advanced brand management tools to identify and block fraudulent websites and apps.
TTD chairman BR Naidu stated that over 30,000 fake websites and apps have been shut down the past year. To counter the threat, the IT wing of TTD has coordinated with AP technology services, the ministry of electronics and IT, domain registrars, web-hosting companies and payment gateway providers to identify and shut down fake platforms.
The AP forensic cyber cell has also taken action against such websites.
TTD is also grappling with social media misuse, with fake accounts impersonating top officials and spreading misinformation. A recent case involved a fraudulent Facebook profile in the name of executive officer J Syamala Rao soliciting money from devotees. Earlier issues included fake platforms offering laddu prasadam, jobs and misleading YouTube channels.
TTD has urged devotees to rely solely on its official website and verified social media accounts, and to report suspicious activity at 98668 98630 or 1800 425 4141.
……………
A few fake Tirumala darshan websites to watch out for:
ttdtickets.com, ttddarshan.com
Examples of devotee-targeted online frauds:
-The Tirumala police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Kothacheruvu for impersonating TTD officials using a fake email and phone number. He created a counterfeit Gmail ID resembling the TTD executive officer’s official account and manipulated Google search results, while listing his number on Truecaller as ‘TTD JEO Office Tirumala’ to deceive the devotees.
-A 32-year-old devotee from Hyderabad lost `4,500 after booking accommodation through a website claiming to be affiliated with TTD. On reaching Tirumala, he was told there was no booking under his name. TTD officials said such fake platforms exploit pilgrims when the official quotas are full.
- A Chennai-based pilgrim received a WhatsApp message from a number claiming to be from the TTD helpdesk, seeking advance payment to secure darshan tickets and Srivari laddu prasadam. Officials clarified that TTD does not solicit payments via WhatsApp and warned devotees to ignore such messages.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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