TTD Registers Criminal Case After Fake Website Lists August - October Darshan Tickets

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has issued a strong advisory warning devotees against a fraudulent website impersonating its official online booking portal and attempting to cheat pilgrims by offering fake darshan and Arjitha Seva tickets. The temple administration has initiated legal action, registered a criminal case, and urged devotees to use only its authorised digital platforms for all bookings.

According to TTD, cyber fraudsters have created the fake website "ttddevasthanam.online", carefully replicating the look and functionality of the official booking portal to deceive devotees. The website has been circulating widely on social media and messaging platforms, making it appear as a legitimate source for booking temple services. Officials warned that apart from collecting money illegally, the portal could also be used to steal personal information, banking credentials, and other sensitive financial data.

The temple body said the fraudulent website falsely advertises the availability of Srivari darshan and Arjitha Seva tickets for August, September and October, even though these quotas have not been officially released. By displaying non-existent booking slots, the operators are exploiting the huge demand for Tirumala tickets while misleading devotees into making online payments. TTD said the scam not only causes financial losses to pilgrims but also tarnishes the reputation of the temple's official online services.

The TTD Vigilance Department detected the fraudulent portal during routine monitoring and immediately initiated action. The administration has approached the concerned domain service provider to suspend the website and has registered a criminal case at the Tirumala Two Town Police Station. Officials said investigations are underway to trace those behind the scam and that stringent legal action will be taken under applicable cybercrime laws.

TTD has advised devotees to book Special Entry Darshan, Arjitha Sevas, accommodation, donations, and all other pilgrim services only through the official TTD website or the authorised TTDevasthanams mobile application. It also cautioned devotees against trusting links shared through social media, unknown websites, or suspicious online advertisements.

The warning comes amid a growing number of phishing and impersonation scams targeting devotees of major temples, as well as customers of banks and government services. Cybersecurity experts recommend verifying website addresses carefully before making payments or entering personal details, as fraudsters increasingly use look-alike portals to steal sensitive information. With Tirumala witnessing heavy pilgrim traffic throughout the year, TTD has appealed to devotees to remain vigilant and report suspicious websites or fake booking links to the authorities immediately.