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By:

Bhaskar Nath Biswal

13 May 2026 at 8:30:30 pm

E-Commerce’s Hidden Threat

The modern Indian marketplace no longer echoes exclusively with the chaotic bustle of traditional bazaars. Instead, it thrives within the silent, instantaneous clicks of smartphone screens. From monthly groceries to high-end electronics, digital retail has fundamentally altered how households across the country consume goods. This transition has undoubtedly unleashed unprecedented convenience, democratizing access to products for millions living outside metro cities. However, this...

E-Commerce’s Hidden Threat

The modern Indian marketplace no longer echoes exclusively with the chaotic bustle of traditional bazaars. Instead, it thrives within the silent, instantaneous clicks of smartphone screens. From monthly groceries to high-end electronics, digital retail has fundamentally altered how households across the country consume goods. This transition has undoubtedly unleashed unprecedented convenience, democratizing access to products for millions living outside metro cities. However, this hyper-connected landscape has also exposed a deeply troubling reality. As digital storefronts expand, so does the shadowy ecosystem of cybercriminals eager to exploit the trust and vulnerabilities of unsuspecting shoppers. The digital transaction, once celebrated as a triumph of modern engineering, is increasingly fraught with unseen hazards. Protecting consumers from e-shopping fraud has now become an urgent national imperative. Fraud Surge The sheer scale of India’s e-commerce revolution provides vital context for why online shopping has become such a high-stakes arena. Recent market estimates indicate that India’s e-commerce economy has surged well beyond $140 billion, driven by over 300 million active digital shoppers. Projections show this user base rapidly swelling toward 400 million, largely fuelled by deep internet penetration, affordable smart phones and seamless payment infrastructure like the Unified Payments Interface across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Yet, this remarkable surge in commercial volume has been mirrored by an equally dramatic escalation in cybercrime statistics. Official records from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal reveal that citizens have filed over 3.8 million cyber fraud complaints, representing staggering financial losses exceeding Rs. 36,000 crore, with a significant portion stemming from fraudulent online retail schemes. Perhaps most alarming is the historical recovery rate, where less than one percent of stolen funds is successfully returned to victims once transactions cross cyber borders. Despite the pervasive presence of online threats, digital consumers frequently fall into predictable traps that expose them to severe risk. A primary misstep is the failure to maintain basic password hygiene, with millions of shoppers reusing weak or identical passwords across multiple e-commerce platforms and email accounts, enabling attackers to execute swift cascading breaches. Furthermore, shoppers frequently bypass critical verification steps in pursuit of speed, such as failing to verify whether a website domain uses secure, encrypted connections before typing in card credentials. Another widespread oversight is performing financial transactions over unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in cafes or transport hubs, which allows bad actors to intercept sensitive data packets in transit. Many consumers also neglect regular software updates on their smartphones, leaving unpatched security vulnerabilities wide open to malware. Above all, emotional urgency remains the greatest weakness. Impulsive buyers frequently ignore glaring red flags, such as suspicious payment requests or unverified seller profiles. Decoding Scams Recognizing that awareness is the frontline of defence, key industry players and digital safety advocates have begun taking structured action. A prominent example is the consumer handbook, ‘Your Guide to Safe Online Shopping’, developed by Safer Internet India and commissioned by Amazon. The initiative aims to demystify complex cyber security concepts and provide consumers with actionable, real-world tools to navigate the digital marketplace safely. The handbook shines a bright light on the most prevalent fraudulent tactics currently plaguing buyers. To combat these threats, the safety guide emphasizes a multi-layered approach to consumer protection. It urges shoppers to verify web addresses meticulously, refrain from sharing one-time passwords and avoid conducting transactions off authorized brand platforms. Equally important, the guide bridges the gap between technical vigilance and legal empowerment by outlining explicit consumer rights under Indian laws and detailing formal grievance redressal mechanisms. A sustainable defence against online shopping fraud requires an integrated, multi-stakeholder strategy that aligns consumer awareness, corporate accountability and robust law enforcement. E-commerce platforms must continue investing aggressively in advanced artificial intelligence tools to detect cloned websites, eliminate fake merchant accounts and intercept suspicious payment flows before they reach consumers. Concurrently, regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies must strengthen real-time intervention frameworks, expanding initiatives like the 1930 cyber crime helpline and emergency account-freezing protocols to minimize financial damage when breaches happen. On the demand side, continuous public awareness campaigns, modelled after comprehensive handbooks, must reach deep into semi-urban and rural regions where first-time internet users are most susceptible to manipulation. Ultimately, building a safe digital shopping environment is about preserving trust. Only when digital literacy keeps pace with technological innovation can India truly reap the economic rewards of its e-commerce revolution without sacrificing the security of its citizens. (The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

Celebrating grace, wisdom and legacy

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

NM College ex-principal Dr. Urmila S. Rai turns 90

Principal Dr. Urmila Rai (3rd from right), son Tapan, daughter Shantala and son-in-law Nimesh Kothare.
Principal Dr. Urmila Rai (3rd from right), son Tapan, daughter Shantala and son-in-law Nimesh Kothare.

Mumbai: The CK Nayudu Hall at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) shimmered with laughter, nostalgia, and affection this weekend, as the academic fraternity, friends, and family gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of a remarkable woman - Dr. Urmila S. Rai, retired Principal of Narsee Monjee College, Vile Parle.

 

Turning 90 is no small feat, but Dr. Rai’s radiant presence, sharp intellect, and youthful spirit made it seem like just another milestone in her brimming life.


Clad in a lively green ensemble - perhaps symbolic of her evergreen personality - Dr. Rai, who relishes chocolates, flitted gracefully from table to table, exchanging warm greetings, hearty laughter, and affectionate hugs. Her fluffy, snowy white hair framed a face still glowing with enthusiasm and curiosity. Each conversation she shared seemed to light up the room, a testament to the enduring charm that once inspired generations of students and colleagues.

 

As former colleagues, relatives, and students gathered around, memories of her golden years helming the SVKM's prestigious Commerce college resurfaced. The nonagenarian “Madam Principal” - once affectionately dubbed “Indira Gandhi” by her students for her commanding presence, discipline, and authority - led the interactions with her trademark grace and humour.

 

Cheerfully discarding old protocols, she moved from group to group, greeting everyone personally, undeterred by age and bustling with energy. A touching moment was when she warmly shook hands with a former colleague who had flown in specially from Kerala, along with some relatives who had travelled from abroad to join the memorable celebrations.

 

Her son, Tapan Rai, with his wife Madhu, and daughter Shantala, with her husband Nimesh Kothare, played perfect hosts - ensuring guests felt at home while keeping a loving eye on their mother. They gently re-introduced her to some familiar faces transformed by unforgiving hands of time, bridging decades of shared memories.

 

What shone through the afternoon was not just the deep respect Dr. Rai commanded, but the esteem with which she is held even today. Her students - scattered around the world and some now luminaries in their respective fields - instinctively bent to touch her feet, receiving her blessings with reverence. Her colleagues enveloped her in warm embraces, cherishing fond memories of shared laughter, challenges, and long years spent shaping young stubborn minds.

 

Adulation flowed freely for the woman who had once steered one of India’s most prestigious colleges with vision, integrity, and compassion. 

“At 90, Dr. Rai remains what she has always been - an educator, a charismatic leader, a great motivator and a charming, graceful human,” gushed a former Vice-Principal Ramila Desai.


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