International travelers flying to India need to be on high alert against cyber criminals who are using counterfeit websites to fleece money under the guise of the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a formal warning to passengers, reminding them that the mandatory health declaration process is entirely free of charge. This caution comes after multiple scam portals surfaced, pretending to be official government channels and charging unsuspecting passengers for submitting their details.
How Scammers are Exploiting Travelers
Cyber fraudsters are continuously devising new techniques to target unsuspecting internet users, and their latest scheme focuses on international air passengers. By creating websites that closely mimic the layout, design, and web addresses of the genuine government portal, these bad actors trick people into believing they are using the authorized channel. Often, these fraudulent platforms rank highly on search engines through paid advertisements, making it even easier for travelers to fall into the trap. Travelers seeking to complete their mandatory documentation are asked to pay processing fees, falling prey to these digital extortionists and losing sensitive banking information in the process.
What is Air Suvidha 2.0 and Why is it Free?
The government has explicitly clarified that the Air Suvidha 2.0 service is completely free. Passengers do not have to pay even a single rupee to submit their Health Self-Declaration Form on the official portal. If any platform demands money or credit card details to complete or submit this form, it is a definitive sign of a fraudulent website.
This digital platform was developed as a contactless passenger health self-declaration system. It is a collaborative initiative created by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The portal was introduced to monitor and prevent the spread of infectious disease, specifically in response to the outbreak of Ebola. Under these regulations, individuals traveling to India from abroad must disclose their health status and details of their travel history over the preceding 21 days before they can obtain immigration clearance. This form must be completed on the official web portal up to 24 hours prior to their scheduled arrival in India. Given that it is a public health requirement managed by state authorities, no service charge is associated with it.
Safety Measures Issued by the Ministry
To prevent passengers from falling into these digital traps, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has suggested several critical safety guidelines
- Verify the Web Address carefully: Before clicking any link or entering details, travelers must thoroughly inspect the URL of the website. Official Indian government websites typically end with gov.in domains.
- Protect Your Sensitive Information: Do not share personal details such as passport numbers, banking credentials, or medical data on any suspicious or unverified portals.
- Rely Only on Official Sources: For any updates, guidelines, or changes regarding Air Suvidha 2.0, travelers should exclusively trust official government announcements and authorized press releases.
