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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.)

Uddhav, Raj hoping for political miracle

Mumbai: Former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray was seen glowing as he celebrated his ‘Sapphire’ (65th) birthday with his family plus a huge crowd of supporters.

 

The revelry became a major political event when in walked his cousin and ex-bete-noire, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, who is said to stepped inside his erstwhile home of Matoshri after almost six years; the last occasion was to invite Uddhav and family for son Amit’s wedding (January 2019).

 

Lot of water has flowed in the Mithi River since – two Lok Sabha and two Assembly elections, the 2019 state polls saw a reluctant Uddhav suddenly catapulted to the CM’s throne – while Raj continued to play musical chairs and video clips.

 

After the cake-cutting and ‘say cheese’ instances, the most-anticipated moment came – when the cousin brothers went in for private confabulations, as party leaders and workers strained their eyes and ears.

 

However, belying the salubrious political ambience of the past few weeks, there were no earth-shattering announcements, barring Raj calling Uddhav his ‘bandhu’ and – most importantly – declaring him as the ‘Shiv Sena Chief’, besides laudatory social media posts from both sides.

  

Public perception

Weighing heavily are aspects like the public perception of the MNS which recently whipped up bad blood for enforcing Marathi language on non-speakers, leading to an outcry.

 

The SS (UBT) is also wary about the prospects of losing its minority and North Indian supporters given the MNS’ shrill campaigns targeting loudspeakers in mosques or attacking ‘outsiders’ coming to appear for various job-oriented public examinations in Maharashtra.

 

The other Maharashtra Vikas Allies (MVA) like Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) have not exactly danced with joy at the proposed SS(UBT)-MNS pact, with leaders privately questioning the MNS’ political strength and credibility given Raj’s mercurial behaviour in the past 15 years.

 

Avoiding a direct response whether MNS could be included in the MVA bloc, senior functionaries of Congress-NCP (SP) pass the buck, saying “it’s upto the top leaders to decide” in the overall interest of the state.

 

The successful birthday bash on July 27 notwithstanding, the real celebrations - or prospects of 1+1=11 expressed by a MNS leader - remain a distant dream.

 

Cautious optimism over political handshake

Party leaders on both sides who spoke with ‘The Perfect Voice’ sought to downplay media speculation of a ‘resumption of political partnership’, with one MNS office-bearer even asking, “When did the talks stop?” and a SS (UBT) prominent one wondering what was the immediate occasion for ‘tie-up’ as the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are due after four years.

 

“The political alliance talks are still at a nascent stage… There’s a long road to cover. The upcoming civic polls are a close target to clinch it, but a lot of groundwork is needed,” a SS (UBT) leader said guardedly.

 

“That is true… We have to clear up many issues before a formal partnership is born. Both sides are working on it, adopting a practical approach but without expecting miracles,” a MNS leader said cautiously.

 

No one had any idea Raj would visit Uddhav

No one had any idea that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray would arrive at Matoshree to wish Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray on his 65th birthday, the latter's party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said on Monday.


The Saamana report said MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar called Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut informing him that Raj is visiting Matoshree in Bandra East to wish Uddhav.


The report said Raj left Shivthirth, his residence in Shivaji Park in Dadar, at 11.30 am. Raut, also Saamana's executive editor, then informed Uddhav about Raj's visit.


When Raj reached Matoshree at 12 noon on Sunday, Uddhav welcomed him at the entrance. Both the cousins then went to the seat that was used by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and paid respect.


In a related development, BJP minister Nitish Rane said there is no reason for anyone to feel sad about anyone if the family has come together.


But Raj has to be appreciated for showing a big heart, he said. 

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