top of page

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.)

Credibility is in Follow-Through

In today’s business landscape, success is often measured by scale, profitability and visibility. Founders who have built thriving companies are admired for their pace, ambition and the sheer volume of decisions they carry each day. Yet, increasingly, there is a subtle behavioural shift accompanying this success — one that rarely makes it to balance sheets but frequently determines long-term growth.


Across industries, many accomplished business owners struggle with following up on commitments they have willingly made. A promised introduction, a call that was to happen “next week”, a proposal that was meant to be shared — all remain unfinished, not because of ill intent, but because of overwhelming schedules. In some cases, this delay is accompanied by a quiet projection of busyness, as though scarcity of time itself has become a badge of status.


While such behaviour may feel harmless to the person practising it, the perception created on the receiving end is far more consequential.


In business, perception precedes opportunity. A founder who repeatedly fails to close loops, however profitable or influential, gradually earns a reputation that travels faster than they expect. People begin to hesitate. Potential collaborators think twice. Newer contacts feel unsure of where they stand. The confusion is subtle, but it is enough to stall momentum.


What is often overlooked is that trust is not broken in dramatic moments; it erodes in silence. When commitments are not honoured, others do not always confront the issue. Instead, they recalibrate expectations quietly and move forward cautiously — or elsewhere.


There is also a growing tendency among some leaders to use busyness as a signal of superiority. Being “too occupied” to respond is sometimes positioned as proof of importance. Yet, in mature business ecosystems, credibility is not built by demonstrating how unavailable one is, but by how responsibly one handles availability. Global leaders who command lasting respect are rarely the loudest or the most inaccessible; they are the most consistent.


Personal branding, contrary to popular belief, does not reside in public visibility alone. It is shaped decisively in private conduct. It is revealed in how one manages commitments, treats newer relationships, and handles power without spectacle. Every unreturned message and every delayed follow-up becomes part of a silent narrative that others construct about reliability.


For founders who have already achieved financial success, this narrative becomes especially critical. At higher levels, growth is rarely limited by skill or opportunity. It is limited by trust. Partnerships, referrals and strategic alliances are extended to those whose word is dependable, not merely impressive.


The irony is that many leaders experiencing stalled growth believe the solution lies in expansion — new markets, new offerings, new teams. In reality, the missing lever is often behavioural alignment. When success is matched with consideration, clarity and follow-through, growth becomes organic rather than forced.


The most respected personal brands in business are built not through grand gestures but through disciplined consistency. A simple, honest communication when time is genuinely constrained preserves goodwill far more effectively than silence ever could. The difference between the two is not operational; it is reputational.


Every business owner, whether conscious of it or not, is constantly branding themselves. Each interaction leaves behind an impression that influences future decisions made by others. Those who recognise this early refine not just their strategies, but their conduct.


Those who ignore it often discover too late that opportunities do not disappear — they simply choose someone else.


In a competitive environment where products can be replicated and services matched, behaviour remains the final differentiator. The founders who understand this do not merely grow their businesses; they build influence that endures.


For leaders serious about sustainable growth, this is no longer a soft consideration. It is a strategic one. And those willing to examine it honestly often unlock a level of progress that no marketing campaign alone can deliver.


Those interested in strengthening how their leadership, conduct and credibility translate into long-term business growth may explore a structured personal branding consultation at https://www.sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani — before small habits quietly become costly limitations.


(The writer is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page