Authorities urge shoppers to stay cautious amid rise of fake e-commerce websites in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: As online shopping surges, particularly during festive seasons, cybercriminals are preying on unsuspecting customers with fake e-commerce websites that closely mimic legitimate platforms.
These fraudulent platforms lure users with flashy deals and deep discounts, aiming to steal money and sensitive personal information, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.
“Two main types of scams are currently being reported: one involves fraudsters creating counterfeit versions of popular brand websites, while the other features entirely new but fake e-commerce platforms—both heavily promoted on social media and messaging apps to attract buyers,” TNIE quoted a senior officer from a CEN (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics) police station in Bengaluru as saying.
The officer added that in most cases, customers are tricked into paying in advance but never receive the products, as fraudsters either collect the money without delivering goods or steal users’ data through malicious links.
He warned that such fake sites often contain subtle spelling errors in brand names that typically go unnoticed, and added that clicking unknown links or trusting deals that seem too good to be true significantly increases the risk. “Always verify the URL, look out for misspellings in the domain, and double-check offers through official brand websites,” he said.
A senior officer from the North division further revealed that some companies have filed police complaints after receiving disputes over orders they never processed. “Victims who lose small amounts, between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, often don’t report it, which allows these scams to continue unchecked,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Authorities are advising online shoppers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious websites to help curb further fraudulent activity.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
