The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has filed a complaint against a website made to look like KTDC's official website and has been found luring customers by offering bookings and discounts in KTDC-owned hotels.

In the complaint filed with the Thiruvananthapuram police commissioner, theKTDC has sought action against the promoters of the website.

In the complaint, a copy of which is in TOI's possession, KTDC states that an organization by the name leonky is hosting a look-alike website which is cheating tourists using the name of the organization as per a report in TOI.

"The website has been designed in such a way that is creates an impression among tourists/public that it is the official site, and it resembles the KTDC website.

They are using the brand name of KTDC and illegally obtaining bookings of hotels and tour packages," the complaint states.

The complaint further says that the packages offered in the fake website are the reproduction of KTDC packages.

"For bookings and reservations, they use almost similar email addresses used by KTDC.

Using the brand name of KTDC, they have deceived a large number of people in the past years and extorted a huge income of the exchequer," the complaint said.

The KTDC came to know of the website after one of its clients tried to make a reservation on www.ktdc.in, mistaking it for the KTDC website. However, the client grew suspicious after the payment gateway showed a personal bank account number and demanded the guest to credit the booking amount to the accounts at ICICI Bank, Thiruvalla or IDBI bank, Padma branch, Kochi.

The website, which has been designed with the snapshots of all the properties of KTDC, also says that the KTDC is the government agency that regulates tourism activity in Kerala and is the official host for tourism in the state. It also uses email addresses prefixed with the names of KTDC-owned premium properties, including Samudra, Tea County, Waterscapes and Periyar House, giving an impression that it is the official website.

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