Table of Contents
- What are consumer frauds?
- What is the most common type of consumer fraud?
- Why do tourists become the prey?
- How to report consumer frauds?
- What are Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies?
- Where can one get all the FAQs related to the consumer helpline?
According to the Fraud Insight Report 2017, India ranks fourth amongst the countries in the Asia Pacific region. Guess what can be the reason for this? Digitization! Digitization has taken a rapid pace in the last few years. Due to which people have become careless while handling their bank accounts or making online payments.
Since most people do online shopping, they get easily trapped in consumer fraud. It indicates a big gap between perception and truth. The lack of knowledge of what happens around them, or the actual truth or fraud occurrences around them, should not at all be ignored. Getting the correct information from sources before taking a step can only save one from getting into unnecessary trouble.
What are consumer frauds?
These days, people travel a lot. With the lockdown coming to its end, as it seems currently with no hint of the delta variant, people are coming out of their homes and planning their trips. With the increase in travellers, there is a certain amount of addition in the frauds as well.
Consumer fraud is a type of fraud where the consumers become victims of physical, financial or mental loss. Consumers are vulnerable to the information or the things that happen around them. Therefore, they become victims of such frauds.
What is the most common type of consumer fraud?
According to a survey by the Economic Times in 2019, email phishing, deceiving apps, discount scams, phoney online stores, fake charities, fake gift cards, SIM jacking and shipping notification scams are a few common ways that make people prey.
Other types of common frauds are:
- Pickpockets at crowd place
- Identity theft
- Credit/debit card fraud
- Prize or lottery fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Taxi/auto scam or pre-paid taxi scam
- Unofficial tourist guides
- Unofficial high-bar-tip fraud
- Train ticket fully booked/office-close scam
Why do tourists become the prey?
Sometimes in the zeal of travelling, people tend to forget to check the details of the tourist location, place, charges, service, hotel location, payment methods, etc. That is why they fall into the mouth of the predators easily. Human nature is easy to convince when it sees a handsome discount. But that should not happen!
The most common seasons when the tourists fall prey are the festive days. Without giving a second check to the other hotels, services, they book their schedules and easily get caught by the hands of the criminals. Criminals tend to take out innovative ways to loot such tourists who obey them without creating much nuisance.
The shoppers tend to take most taxes in the name of discount and price the same product three to four times its original price that people think is in their budget. They get easily fooled and manipulated by these tactics, due to which criminals gain the confidence to loot other customers.
How to report consumer frauds?
One can directly report to the head office of the Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporation Limited here:
Apeejay House, 4th Floor, 3 Dinshaw Vachha Road, Near K.C. College, Churchgate, Mumbai 20. CIN: U99999MH1975SGC018086. Tel No: (022) 22044040 Or can call the toll-free number 1800-229930 (9:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
One can find the list of all the regional offices of Maharashtra here: https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/contact-us
Under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, consumers can report frauds through National Consumer Helpline number 1800114000 OR 14404. The number is reachable on all days except National holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
One can sign up via NCH ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ app available here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mount.talent.mtcdev02.udaan After signing up, a consumer can log in with their credentials and can report the complaint.
Use the Consumer app for reporting the case: https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/apps/consumerapp/. This app is regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
One can also register a grievance using the Umang app: https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/apps/umang/.
One can mail to the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs on this mail: uscpu-ca@nic.in.
One can file a complaint by signing up and logging in at http://gama.gov.in. Using your ID and password, file a complaint with the evidence you have.
One can also file a complaint at the nearest Grahak Suvidha Kendra or a designated Voluntary Consumer Organization (VCO). The staff over there will complain and will send the notice to the Government from your side.
Some guidelines mentioned by the experts are:
One must ask for an invoice slip after making a purchase.
If you sense any adulteration or manipulation in anything, report it directly.
Always see Government certification and hallmarks while making a product purchase, like ISO, ISI, BIS, etc.
No one asks for your bank details, card details, OTPs or passwords. So do not share with anyone. Verify before making payments anywhere.
One can always make a complaint in the PG Portal here: https://pgportal.gov.in/.
What are Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies?
Various consumer agencies have been established at different levels to solve the grievances of the public. Some of them are:
- District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or District Commission. For example Mumbai Sub-urban Commission
- State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or State Commission. For example Maharashtra Commission
- National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or National Commission
Where can one get all the FAQs related to the consumer helpline?
One has to visit the official website of the consumer helpline https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/faq-details.php?fid=Consumer%20Protection%20Act%202019 to get all the important FAQs regarding consumer frauds and how to report them.
To find queries related to the Grievance Against Misleading Advertisement (GAMA), visit the website here: https://gama.gov.in/Faq.aspx.
FAQs related to Consumer Grievance are mentioned here: https://gama.gov.in/ConsumerGrivences.aspx.
FAQs regarding Consumer Protection Act 2019 are listed here: https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/faq-details.php?fid=Consumer%20Protection%20Act%202019.
If you are not satisfied with services given by the Travel companies and want to resolve travel complaints, then file a complaint at Voxya an online consumer complaints forum that helps consumers to get a replacement, refund and compensation with an optimal solution.
Voxya, trusted by 1 lacs+ consumer across India.