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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.)

Government creating obstacles in people celebrating Eid freely: Akhilesh Yadav

  • PTI
  • Mar 31, 2025
  • 4 min read

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday alleged the BJP-led government was creating obstacles in people celebrating Eid freely, and accused the ruling party of flouting the Constitution and undermining democracy.


"The biggest threat today is to democracy and the Constitution," Yadav told reporters outside Aishbagh Eidgah on the day of Eid. "And I am saying this with full responsibility', even though I shouldn't have to, ?that the BJP is not running the country as per the Constitution."


Yadav alleged the BJP government was creating obstacles in people celebrating Eid freely. He pointed to heightened security measures at Eidgahs and mosques, claiming they were excessive and unnecessary.


"You all have been covering Eid for years, but have you ever seen such large-scale barricading before?" he asked. He also claimed that police deliberately stopped his convoy for half an hour without any valid reason.


"When I asked why I was being held up, no official had an answer. What should I call this? Dictatorship? An undeclared emergency? Or an attempt to intimidate us so that we don't attend events of other communities?"


Yadav also recalled how his father and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav had first brought him to the Eidgah, and since then, he had been visiting regularly. "But this time, the excessive security seemed designed to prevent people from celebrating their festival and following their traditions," he alleged.


Addressing a question on his recent remarks about cow shelters and dung, for which the BJP has criticised him, Yadav hit back, saying, "Who knows more about cows than us? Those putting up posters and debating on national TV should actually work for cow protection instead of just talking."


He challenged the BJP to disclose the actual number of cows and bulls in government shelters, alleging that the ruling party deliberately avoids accountability.


"They won't tell you how many animals died at the Maha Kumbh due to the floods, nor will they explain where the allocated budget for cow shelters is going," he said.


Yadav further accused the BJP of "using distractions" to avoid addressing real issues such as rising unemployment, inflation, lack of investment in Uttar Pradesh, and failing healthcare facilities.


"They want to hide corruption, their 'Ease of Doing Corruption', their 'Ease of Taking Commissions', and their 'Ease of Doing Scams'," he remarked sarcastically.


Without naming him, Yadav also took a swipe at suspended IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, who is facing corruption charges, suggesting that the officer was being shielded by the BJP.


"I have information that the missing officer is actually hiding in the Chief Minister's residence," he claimed.


Continuing his attack on the BJP, Yadav also responded to recent remarks made by BJP MLA from Loni, Nand Kishor Gurjar, saying that the legislator was not attacking his own party but merely challenging officials.


"He has only said, 'If you have the courage, prove me wrong'. Maybe he feels insulted or is in distress, which is why he reacted in anger," Yadav said.


"Just think about it. This is a BJP legislator questioning government officials and reminding them of their loyalty. Now, it's up to the officials and the government to respond," he said.


Yadav also supported West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent remarks, asserting the BJP was running a smear campaign against her, "just as it had done in Uttar Pradesh".


"What Mamata Banerjee is facing today in Bengal is exactly what the BJP did in Uttar Pradesh. Now, they are using the same dirty tactics in Bengal and Bihar," he alleged.


He further claimed that journalists were well aware of the situation but refrain from speaking out. "You all know the truth, but I understand that you won't say it openly," he told reporters.


When asked about Kanwar Yatra processions blocking roads, Yadav avoided getting into the debate. However, on the issue of land ownership laws, he pointed out a contradiction, "Right now, a person from Uttar Pradesh cannot buy land in Uttarakhand. People should think about this."


Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he added, "I hope he (Yogi) also moves to Uttarakhand."


Shifting to a serious tone, Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating constitutional provisions for political gain. He criticised the removal of Anglo-Indian representation in Parliament and slammed the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). "They claimed GST would help traders, but look at the reality. ?Businesses are suffering, inflation is soaring," he said.


He also attacked the BJP's demonetisation move, alleging that corruption had only worsened.


Referring to the case of suspended IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, Yadav remarked, "This entire controversy was not about commissions but about distribution. If the share had been settled properly, there would have been no FIRs."


Yadav accused the BJP of taking decisions solely for political gains rather than national development. "If demonetisation and GST were truly beneficial, then why does the government still need to provide free rations to 80 crore people?" he asked.


"The government itself cannot explain the per capita income of these 80 crore people."

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