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By:

Bhaskar Nath Biswal

13 May 2026 at 3:00:30 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.)

Literary heritage too part of culture: Governor

Mumbai: Governor of Maharashtra Jishnu Dev Varma visited the library of the historic Asiatic Society in Mumbai on Tuesday to have a look at its rich collection of books, rare documents, archaeological artefacts from Sopara, maps and rare coins. During the visit the Governor announced a donation of Rs 20 lakh to the Asiatic Society for the preservation and conservation of books. He said that culture does not comprise only music, dance and theatre; our historical literary heritage is also an integral part of Indian culture.


The Governor said that he was extremely happy to visit the Asiatic Society. He said that preserving the historical and intellectual heritage housed here and passing it on to future generations is a collective responsibility. He said there should be serious reflection on how the younger generation can be attracted to this rich heritage and institution. The Asiatic Society should not remain merely a repository of books and documents, but should become a vibrant and dynamic institution, continuously alive with readers, researchers and seekers of knowledge, he said.


The Governor said that culture does not comprise only music, dance and theatre; our historical literary heritage is also an integral part of Indian culture.


He said that ‘Viksit Bharat’ does not mean economic development alone. ‘Viksit’ encompasses not only ‘Vikas’—development—but also our ‘Virasat’—our historical and cultural heritage. Moving forward with both development and heritage is the right path towards a Viksit Bharat.


Speaking about the preservation of books, the Governor said that preservation is not merely an office task to be carried out from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; it requires passion, a sense of purpose and dedication to the work. He expressed satisfaction at the excellent work being undertaken by the Asiatic Society in this regard.


‘Rajaratnakaram’ Mumbai’s link to Tripura


There is considerable discussion in Tripura about the Sanskrit work ‘Rajaratnakaram’, relating to the State of Tripura and its royal family. The Governor said that although the work has been widely discussed in Tripura, he had never personally seen the book there. He said that he was delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to see this historic work for the first time today at the Asiatic Library in Mumbai.


On the occasion, President of the Asiatic Society, Mumbai Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe briefed the Governor about the various activities and work of the Asiatic Society and introduced him to the newly elected members of the Managing Committee and the Scrutiny Committee.


Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Society Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar; former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University and Vice-President of the society Dr. Sanjay Deshmukh; Honourary Secretary Vivek Ganpule and Madhav Bhandari were among other dignitaries present on the occasion. Vaijayanti Chakravarti proposed the vote of thanks.

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