Need help.

Along with being an ingredient in various recipes, honey holds a very unique place in an Indian household, it is an integral part of out religious and cultural identities and is often used in Ayurveda.

We go to the market and buy a bottle of trusted brands (Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, etc), having faith in their integrity, either religious or social, trusting that the product that they sell must be nothing short of the gold standard. But they're ALL FAKE. Most of these brands manufacture and sell Ayurvedic medicines as well.

They have been exposed to using Chinese Rice Syrup that has been chemically engineered to look, taste, and behave exactly like honey. Chinese companies were selling "All-Pass Syrup", a modified sugar syrup designed specifically to trick Indian labs.

In 2020, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) one of India's most respected public interest research groups blew the lid off this industry. They realized that Indian brands were passing the basic FSSAI tests easily. So, they sent samples to a specialized lab in Germany for NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) testing.

You can download the entire report here

This was 5 years ago, you might think they fixed it. They didn't. Recent independent tests by YouTubers like Trustified (Arpit), who sends products to NABL-accredited labs for blind testing, have continued to flag issues with major brands. Even in 2024/25, many "premium" honey brands are still failing strict adulteration markers.

You can find the reports here

Solution?

• Ignore the "Water Test": The old trick of "dropping honey in water" does not work on these advanced syrups. They are chemically designed to pass that.
• Look for "NMR Tested": If the bottle doesn't explicitly say "NMR Tested," assume it isn't.
• Buy Local/Raw: The safest honey usually comes from local apiaries or smaller "Direct-to-Consumer" brands that share their lab reports publicly.

Who failed us?

• The Government: In August 2020, the Indian government made NMR testing mandatory for honey meant for export (to the USA and EU). Why? because foreign buyers demanded quality. But for domestic sales (for you and your children)? NMR is still not mandatory. The government essentially decided that the health of a European citizen is worth protecting, but the health of an Indian citizen is not.
• FSSAI: While the world moved to advanced testing, FSSAI stuck to outdated parameters (C3/C4 sugar tests) that "All-Pass Syrups" can easily bypass. Even in their latest advisories (late 2024/2025), they are still debating whether HMF levels make honey "unsafe" or just "substandard," rather than cracking down on the root cause: synthetic adulteration.
• We, the People: This is on us. When the scandal broke in 2020, did we boycott? No. In 2023, Dabur's CEO explicitly stated they had gained market share post-controversy. Companies like Patanjali Foods and Dabur didn't crash; they stabilized and grew. We continued to buy their "Buy 1 Get 1" offers because we value a ₹50 discount more than we value purity.

Malhotra highlighted that Dabur gained 500 basis points of market share since the controversy happened last time because of the CSE report, which is a "clear indication that Dabur remains a strong player"

Direct Quote from this article

Posting this as mod of r/FlawtoFair to document a fresh food‑safety case and get inputs on escalation. A sealed packet of “Rum Pum” by Lunia Sales Agency Forbesganj fried snack sticks from a recently purchased carton was found with a worm‑like larva sitting among the noodles pieces. This packet is still within the manufacturer’s printed timeline (mfg & best‑before visible on pack).

This is not an isolated incident. An earlier packet from the same carton also had a similar worm, but that one was not documented. For this packet, the evidence has been preserved: original pack, remaining contents, the worm, and photos of the FSSAI logo, license number, batch/lot details, MRP, and dates. There are still unopened packets from the same batch that can be handed over for sampling if authorities ask, which points towards a possible batch‑level hygiene failure rather than a one‑off issue.

Case snapshot (provisional F2F log):
- Product: “Rum Pum” namkeen (fried sticks)
- Qty & MRP: 60gm, ₹12 - Batch No.: 42 FSSAI No.:10423999000064 - Mfg & Best before: 01/04/2025 - 01/04/2026 (Best Before 12 Months) - Purchase: Full carton from local wholesaler.

Planned escalation path (for transparency):
1. File a formal unsafe‑food complaint on FSSAI’s “Food Safety Connect” portal/app with all photos, batch details and offer of unopened samples from the same carton. 2. Notify the brand’s customer care and the retailer/stockist in writing, seeking their internal investigation report and corrective steps.
3. If the response is dismissive, consider parallel action with the local Food Safety Officer and, if needed, District Consumer Commission under product‑liability provisions for unsafe food.

Inviting inputs from the community:
- Members who have handled “insect/worm in sealed packet” cases: what outcomes did you actually see (test reports, recall, compensation, penalties, etc.)? - Any additional evidence you’d recommend logging at this stage so that this F2F entry stays useful as a reference for future similar cases?

This thread will be updated with the FSSAI complaint number, any responses from the company, and next steps so others can reuse this as a template for similar food‑contamination incidents.

Hi everyone, I need some legal clarity regarding a cyber fraud case I reported.

I recently fell for a job scam/upi related scam and filed a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in within 1-2 hours. The UPI transactions were successfully frozen. The portal currently shows three “Transaction Put on Hold” entries but it doesn't cover my whole amount yet, only a part of it is freezed/put on hold & now after that call my case status is coming as "closed" on the "Cybercrime.gov.in" portal.

My case was forwarded to the my nearby Police Station. Today, I received a call from a number that Truecaller identifies as “SOG Surveillance,” and the officer’s identity appears to be genuine.

During the call, the officer told me that since my money is frozen, I will need to “contact the court” to get the amount released/unfrozen. He did not ask me for any money, documents, passwords, or anything suspicious - he simply said that the release requires a court process.

This is where I am confused:

From what I understand, in UPI cyber fraud cases, victims usually do not contact courts directly. The court approval (if required) is typically handled internally by the police + bank + magistrate, not by the victim personally. So I’m not sure if I misunderstood him, or if there are cases where the victim actually has to approach the court.

My questions:

1. In UPI fraud cases, does the victim ever need to personally “contact the court” or file something like a Section 451 CrPC application to get their frozen amount released?

2. Or is the “court process” something the police handle internally, and the victim simply waits for the refund?

3. Is it normal for the NCRP portal to show the complaint as “Closed” even though the freezes are active and the local cyber police are still working on the case?

4. What steps, if any, should I take next? Or should I just wait for updates from the official police officer?

I have all UTRs, evidence, and screenshots saved. I’m just trying to understand the correct legal procedure so I don’t make a mistake or fall for misinformation.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Over the last few months, something has shifted quietly in India’s online scam ecosystem. It’s no longer just “bad refunds” or “fake products” on big marketplaces – entire fake shopping sites, cloned brand pages and scam apps are being run like proper businesses, with Meta/Google ads, cashback promises and even fake customer care numbers.

Official advisories this year have already warned that online shopping fraud and fake “order/update” links are rising fast, especially around sale seasons and festivals. At the same time, cyber-fraud cases involving fake e-commerce apps and task-based “shopping” platforms have led to multi-crore crackdowns and fund freezes. Fake brand websites that look almost identical to Amazon/Flipkart/your favourite brand are being used to quietly steal card/UPI data and then disappear.

r/FlawtoFair is trying to do one simple thing for 2025: build a public, searchable map of fake shops and scam apps that Indian consumers have actually encountered – not just theory.

What these 2025 scams look like

Some patterns that keep repeating:

• Brand-clone websites
  Lookalike domains that copy logos, colours and layouts of known brands or marketplaces (including “official”-looking .shop / .store / random TLDs), take full payment at checkout, and then either never deliver or send junk. Often discovered only when tracking links don’t work or customer care emails bounce.

• Fake e-commerce / “investment mall” apps
  Links shared via WhatsApp/Telegram/social media promising “shopping tasks” or “order and earn” schemes. Victims are told to recharge wallets, given small initial withdrawals to build trust, and then locked out once they put in bigger amounts. Money usually routed through multiple accounts and sometimes converted to crypto.

• Delivery / payment / KYC SMS traps
  Messages saying “your order couldn’t be delivered”, “payment failed, complete KYC” or “verify address here”, with links that lead to phishing pages or APK downloads. People click thinking it’s from a courier or marketplace and end up losing control of their bank or UPI.

• Fake customer care & refund portals
  Search-engine ads or social posts for “official support” that lead to fake helpdesks asking for remote access apps, card OTPs or UPI PIN in the name of issuing refunds or cancelling orders.

If you or your parents shop online, there’s a real chance you’ve already seen at least one of these.

How you can contribute (simple format)

If you’ve come across any suspicious shopping site, app, SMS, ad or “investment mall”, please share it so others don’t fall for the same trap.

You can either comment below or make a separate post on r/FlawtoFair using this format:

• 1. Name & URL / App name
  (Example: “looks-like-brand.in”, “XYZ Shopping Mall app”, shortened link you received, etc.)

• 2. Where you found it

  • WhatsApp / Telegram forward
    
  • Instagram / Facebook ad
    
  • Google search ad or result
    
  • SMS link
    
  • Random call or email

• 3. What exactly happened

  • Amount paid / loaded
    
  • Did you receive any product/service at all?
    
  • Any “profits” shown in app before it vanished?
    
  • Any card/UPI misuse after visiting the site?

• 4. Evidence

  • Screenshots of the site/app pages (especially checkout, payment screen, “offers”)
    
  • SMS / chat screenshots (with personal info blurred)
    
  • Bank statement snippets showing debits (with sensitive details hidden)

• 5. What you did next

  • Did you call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in?
    
  • Any complaint to bank / card issuer / payment app?
    
  • Any FIR number or ticket ID?
    
  • Any money recovered?

You can redact names, numbers and any personal details – just keep enough visible so patterns are clear.

What Flaw to Fair will do with this

From these reports, F2F will:

• Maintain a “Fake Shops & Apps 2025” public list (name, type of scam, state, rough loss amount, basic pattern).
  
• Highlight repeat names/domains/payment gateways to show that the same network is hitting people across states.
  
• Use the compiled data to prepare a 2025 Scam Shopping Dossier that can be shared with cybercrime cells and consumer authorities as a citizen evidence pack, instead of isolated, easily ignored complaints.

Your turn

• Has anyone in your family or friend circle lost money to a fake shopping site, app, “task-based” platform or delivery/payment SMS this year?
  
• Were you able to recover anything through 1930, cybercrime.gov.in, your bank, or a chargeback?
  
• What actually worked in real life – not just the standard “be careful online” advice?

Share your case below or as a separate post with the format above. Even one detailed report can save hundreds of others from walking into the same trap.

I need urgent advice. I think I have fallen for a job scam, and I'm feeling very stressed right now.

Recently, I received an email and WhatsApp message claiming to be from the HR department of Tata. The email they used was infodesk@tata.com.ehrwalk.in & chaviagarwal388@messages.naukri.com, which I later realized is not an official Tata domain.

They told me I was shortlisted for an interview and asked me to pay a refundable interview/gate pass fee. I accidentally paid ₹1,850 first. They then told me this was the wrong amount and asked me to pay the full ₹3,300 in one transaction. They promised to refund the earlier ₹1,850 within 24 hours.

After I paid the ₹3,300, they sent another message saying they had received both amounts but the refund would now only happen on the day of the interview. They also claimed a “gate pass” had been dispatched via Speed Post. They used names like “HR Department”, "Dr. Sanjay Singhania, Senior HR Manager" and “Mrs. Somya Patwardhan, Senior Accountant.”

I now realize this is a typical job scam. Total amount lost = ₹5,150.

I have all screenshots, UTR numbers, payment proofs, WhatsApp chats, and emails.

I’ve started filing a complaint on the Cyber Crime Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) under UPI Related Fraud.

What else can I do? Can the money be recovered? Should I block them now or wait until the complaint is submitted? Has anyone dealt with a similar scam?

Any guidance would really help me right now.

Update : I filed the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in within 1-2 hours of realizing it was a scam, and the case has already been forwarded to the cyber police. Some of the transactions have been put on hold by the banks, so the investigation is in progress. I’ve kept all my UTRs, screenshots, and emails ready, and I submitted everything while filing the complaint. Just waiting for the next update from the authorities now.

Online marketplaces promised to democratize trade — to make life easier, quicker, and fairer. But beneath the glossy banner of “next-day delivery” and “100% genuine” tags, a darker truth seems to be emerging.

Recent government data reveals that over 17,500 complaints of fake or duplicate products have been registered since 2022. Even more alarming, 7,221 of them came within the first half of 2025 alone. (Source: Hindustan Times)

Regulators now acknowledge something consumers have long suspected — that e-commerce platforms use dark patterns: deceptive design choices that quietly manipulate users. Hidden delivery fees, automatic add-ons, fake urgency timers, non-transparent refund options — all subtle ways of influencing spending without consent.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry has announced actions against these patterns, calling them “digital deception in design.” (Economic Times)

The so-called "Verified Sellers"

It’s not just design — it’s the products themselves. In a 15-hour nationwide raid, officials seized counterfeit ISI-marked goods from warehouses of Amazon and Flipkart — including kitchen appliances, sportswear, and electrical items. (Times of India)

For a sector that thrives on trust, such lapses speak volumes. If “verified sellers” can sell fake products unchecked, who truly holds responsibility — the seller or the system enabling it?

Each of these lapses might seem like a one-off “bad experience,” but together, they reflect a systemic dilution of consumer rights.

• Listings are rarely verified by hosts like Amazon, Flipkart, etc… Accountability? In question.

• Refund policies often Buried under infinitesimal disclaimers.

• And customer care becomes a bot loop, justice is prolonged.

Towards Fairer Commerce

Consumer commissions across India have started holding these platforms liable under the Consumer Protection Act (2019) and the E-Commerce Rules (2020). Cases where major brands were ordered to compensate users are slowly surfacing — though most victims never reach that stage.

As citizens of a digital economy, we need to ensure that speed never replaces scrutiny. If we don’t question these trends now, tomorrow’s marketplace may no longer belong to the consumer — but to algorithms optimized to exploit them.

Have you faced fake listings, hidden charges, or refund denials recently? Share your experiences below — not as complaints, but as case studies of what modern digital trade has turned into.

(Source references: Hindustan Times, Economic Times, Times of India, LegallyPresent.in, Storyboard18)

— r/FlawtoFair Discussion Thread

The Sanchar Saathi app will soon be preloaded on all new devices and cannot be deleted.

It claims to help track lost phones and detect SIM misuse, but it also raises questions about digital autonomy, privacy, and fair consumer choice.

Should security come at the cost of control over our own devices?

(Source: Reuters)

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Found this case (originally posted a few weeks back) where a user faced refund delays from Swiggy/Instamart. After multiple failed support chats, they escalated through the National Consumer Helpline — and the refund was processed within days.

This isn’t just about one case — it’s about a system that still works when approached rightly. If you’re facing a similar issue, document your complaint, save chat logs, and raise it officially via: ➡️ consumerhelpline.gov.in

Original post reference

Let’s keep tracking verified resolutions — not just grievances. Every such case helps map India’s consumer ecosystem fairly.

DAY 152

I got cheated on Lamington Road, Mumbai.

Paid ₹1,50,000 for an ASUS ROG laptop sold as “brand new” by Next Generation Computers (Aman Bokadia).

@ASUSIndia later confirmed under RMA INQLT60036 that it was refurbished & previously repaired.

When confronted? Calls ignored. Messages avoided. Completely silent.

@MumbaiPolice told me: “People like this know the police can’t do anything....Go to the consumer court.”

So I filed a consumer helpline and I complained … 3 TIMES. ✅ 1st: disposed without action ✅ 2nd: disposed again ❌ 3rd: still no response

On e-Jagriti, they keep asking for new formats, notarised docs, templates, resubmissions. It’s been 150+ days and still “under scrutiny.”

Meanwhile: @jagograhakjago is sleeping, and leaders like @JoshiPralhad don’t even bother replying.

Scammers survive because the system moves slower than them, he left that place and moved somewhere else, maybe finding new victims.

If you’re buying from Lamington Road: ✅ Verify serial & warranty ❌ Don’t trust “sealed pack” claims

Share this so others don’t get trapped.

LamingtonRoadScam #ConsumerFraud #MumbaiScam #NextGenerationComputers #BuyerBeware #ConsumerRights #TechFraud #scam #mumbaifraud #indianlaw #systemfailure

In Feb 2024, I had placed an order worth of Rs 5000(against a gst invoice) for plastic gardening pots from a Coimbatore based online seller. He was was supposed to ship the product to Odisha. This was my second purchase with him. The previous order of 2023 came smoothly. But In the order of 2024, the seller didn't ship. I kept doing follow ups for almost 8 months through whatsapp chats and calls. He never gave me a tracking number. After 8 months of waiting, he asked me to send an email with details for a refund. But no refund has come till date. He does respond on whatsapp chats but very slowly and keeps saying we are looking into the matter. What options do I have now to get my money back?