Cyber Bureau alerts regarding hackers' unauthorized air ticket sales

Kathmandu, June 9: The Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police, through Nepal Tourism Board, has begun alerting those service-providers to avoid being victimized after the hackers were on the prowl regarding the sales of the air tickets.

The Bureau wrote to the Nepal Tourism Board to coordinate effort to timely aware and alert those related service-providers. "As the cases of hackers allegedly involved in sales and distribution of air tickets were on the rise lately, we would like you to aware and alert the travel and tour operators' agencies issuing air tickets to remain safe," read the letter.

The Bureau also requested the Board to coordinate with the concerned airlines and related software companies to provide necessary information in the prescribed format at the earliest during the investigation. 

The Board has stepped up its activities including launching an awareness drive accordingly. Maniraj Lamichhane, Director at the Board, shared that the concerned service-provider agencies were asked to maintain confidentiality regarding information and conduct transactions only after verification.

Furthermore, all service-provider agencies and individuals were asked to take all precautionary measures to remain safe from hackers. The Bureau is currently looking into the case based on the complaints filed by the victims, informed Superintendent of Police, Pashupati Kumar Raya.

Few days ago, hackers were found hacking into the ticket sales system of Nepali travel and tour operators and issuing tickets worth millions rupees from the three travel agencies including the Cosmo Nepal Travels.

Hackers were learned to use 'phising' method to gain access to the login and password of the targeted companies and issued international air tickets worth millions.