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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.)

Polygraph Testing: A Double-Edged Sword in Modern Legal Investigations

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Polygraph Testing: A Double-Edged Sword in Modern Legal Investigations

The polygraph, referred to as the “lie detector,” has historically been a subject of significant scholarly interest and controversy within the domains of law enforcement, security, and forensic investigation. Advocates of this technology contend that it serves as an essential instrument for revealing deception, as it purportedly identifies physiological variations linked to lying, including modifications in heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity.

The inception of the polygraph can be traced to the early 20th century. Researchers William Marston and John Augustus Larson initiated experimental endeavours employing diverse methodologies to quantify physiological reactions in a quest to ascertain falsehoods. With time, the polygraph has experienced significant evolution, characterised by enhancements in sensor technologies and data analytical methodologies that facilitate more precise and dependable assessments of the physiological alterations potentially linked to deceptive behaviour.

In India, several high-profile cases have involved the use of polygraph tests. Notable cases from the 1990s include the Bombay Bomb Blast Case (1993), where Yakub Menon was convicted for his role in the serial bombings, and the Shivani Bhatnagar Journalist Murder Case (1999). In the 2000s, the Nithari Hatya Kand (2005), while the Aarushi Talwar Murder Case (2008) captured public attention. In 2007, the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad Case and the Madhumita Shukla Murder Case were widely covered. In the 2010s, cases like the Adarsh scam (2011), the Sheena Bora Murder case (2012), the 2G scam case (2012), and the Vyapam case (2013) highlighted the role of polygraph testing in complex fraud and murder cases. In 2015, the Udahmpur Attack Case, involving a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, and the Pathankot Airbase Attack case (2016) also saw using polygraph tests for interrogation. Hathras gang rape case (2020), Shraddha Walker Murder case (2022), and Kolkata rape-murder case (2024), are some of the recent major cases where polygraph has been used.

The Supreme Court has adopted a sophisticated perspective regarding the utilisation of polygraph results as evidentiary material in judicial processes. The Supreme Court has acknowledged the utility of polygraph examinations as a method for collecting evidence, particularly in scenarios where alternative forms of evidence may be deficient. The court has concurrently articulated apprehensions concerning their dependability and admissibility as legal evidence. In the seminal case of Selvi & Ors. vs. State of Karnataka (2010), the Supreme Court decreed that no person may be compelled to undergo a polygraph examination without their explicit consent, underscoring that such procedures are intrusive and infringe upon the fundamental right against self-incrimination as enshrined in Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution. However, the court has allowed voluntary polygraph tests, but any information obtained may be used as supplementary or corroborative evidence.

Recent scientific innovations have sought to improve the precision of polygraph tests by exploring alternative methodologies, including the use of artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning techniques. These approaches aim to analyse polygraph data with greater accuracy, reducing the occurrence of false positives and enhancing overall reliability. These algorithms are designed to identify subtle physiological patterns that may elude detection through traditional polygraph methodologies. As scientific and technological paradigms progress, the polygraph may ultimately establish itself as a more dependable and ethically justified instrument for truth verification; nonetheless, it is imperative to uphold a prudent and deliberate approach to its application within the judicial system.

(Keshav Kumar is a retired IPS and forensic consultant to Assam Government. Samiksha Das is Forensic Psychologist, Assistant Lecturer (OPJGU). Views personal.)

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