Lok Sabha Question No. 1463 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Fake e-Commerce Websites
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1463 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## FAKE E-COMMERCE WEBSITES

## 1463.   SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is cognizant about the existence of many fake e-commerce websites which are duping the unassuming consumers without any restraints;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ban and take down these websites to protect consumers; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (c) : 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.  States/UTs  are  primarily  responsible  for  the  prevention,  detection,  investigation  and  prosecution  of crimes  including  cyber  frauds  through  their  Law  Enforcement  Agencies  (LEAs).  The  Central  Government supplements  the  initiatives  of  the  States/UTs  through  advisories  and  financial  assistance  under  various schemes for their capacity building.

To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the  Central  Government  has  taken  steps  for  spreading  awareness  about  cyber  crimes;  issuance  of  alerts/ advisories; capacity building/training of law enforcement personnel/ prosecutors/judicial officers; improving cyber forensic facilities, etc. The Government has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as an attached office to provide a framework and eco-system for Law Enforcement Agencies to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The Government has launched the National Cyber  Crime  Reporting  Portal  (https://cybercrime.gov.in)  to  enable  the  public  to  report  all  types  of  cyber crimes. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal are routed automatically to the respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. The  'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System' has been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop  siphoning  off  fund  by  the  fraudsters.  A  toll-free  Helpline  number  '1930'  has  been  operationalized  to provide assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken many steps to spread awareness on cyber crime that inter-alia include; issuance of alerts/advisories, dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media account i.e. Twitter handle (@Cyberdost), Facebook (CyberDostI4C), Instagram (cyberdosti4c), Telegram (cyberdosti4c), Radio campaign, engaged MyGov  for publicity in multiple media, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, organizing of Cyber Safety and Security Awareness week, in association with police department in different States/UTs etc. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued advisory to all the State/UT Governments to carry out publicity of National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) and Toll-free helpline number '1930' to create mass awareness.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in  e-commerce.  These  rules  inter-alia  outline  the  responsibilities  of  e-commerce  entities  and  specify  the liabilities  of  marketplace  and  inventory  e-commerce  entities  including  provisions  for  consumer  grievance redressal.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  has  issued  'Guidelines  for  Prevention  and  Regulation  of  Dark  Patterns, 2023'  on  30th  November,  2023  for  prevention  and  regulation  of  dark  patterns  listing  13  specified  dark patterns identified in e-Commerce sector.

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