Who told Covid-19 is a pandemic all over the world ? It might happen that, 99% people like me believe Covid-19 is a pandemic which has lost lakhs of Jobs, labourers out of work, street vendors out of business, loss in revenue to Govt. exchequer , loss of pay to some private sector employees and finally a slow down in economy of the country. But alternatively for the rest 1% Indian (contradictory Indian) who thinks Covid-19 brought them plenty of opportunities in their business growth and revenue. Such organizations are not limited to the great Ambanis or Adanis, but to some new level of entrepreneurs and some existing politicians also. Lets have some discussions .
If we will first discuss regarding the great businessmen like Ambanis and Adanis, we will take in to consideration a few business holdings which contribute a majority share to their volume. For Ambanis , Petroleum is the major source of revenue and all people knows what the present cost of 1 litre petroleum during Covid-19 and international crude oil prices. When the rate of international crude oil prices decresed drastically the rate of petrol / disel incrased drastically in our country having an inverse relationship, a contra principle in India. Now come to the Adanis. Though I don’t have any idea about their virtual profitability, just simple it can be well established from a news that, how much wealth has been maximaised by Adanis now. As during Covid-19, when most of the companies are crying foul regarding the increased decrease in demand leading to the increased loss and turnover of the business, the great Adanis have able to procure a golden peacock power producing company that is Odisha Power Grid Corporation (OPGC). In my opinion, before completion of Modi 2.0, Adani Power will be a major power prudecing organization in India having more than 70% of Power produced in our country and will be going towards a monopolistic competition market. And people may face another case study like Jio which had broken all the models of economics and helped closing down most of the telecom companies like Aircel, Tata and frced some other telecom companies to go for huge debt basket like Voda-idea and Airtel….
Now, we will come to new business opportunities in India. Covid-19 has brought the country new business opportunities in the sectors of Masks for SHGs and other small scale business entrepreneurs. Like one of my friend who was having a close liasioning with Bhunbaneswar AIIMS for supply of Covid-95 masks without any lawful open tender and who is having no prior experience in supplying any hospital supplies, but able to get business as no tender can be published due to non publication of newspapers in those days of Covid and used to get a good amount of money by getting the order on preferential basis , no doubts with some back door kick backs also. Like this, the procurement Covid-19 Masks and other accessories has helped some political leaders as well as policy makers becoming Crorepatis in these procurements. I am not saying this. Just these information are revealed from some news being floated in some news channels and news papers in India. Like in Odisha, opposition used to claim that there are some Crores of rupees kick backs in the procurement of some Covid equipment and there was a news that one of the ruled party president in a state has asked for some crores of rupees bribe for supply of Covid accessories to a state within India. So these are some of the greatest examples hoe Covid has brought India newer opportunities in different Business sectors. So, the Modi 2.0 has some of the big reasons to highlight its economic growth and employment opportunities which has increased local as well as vocal communities , if I am not wrong.
Case-1
Now, let me discuss , a new business opportunity in India which made some new entrepreneurs Lakh Patis in a few days only. First let me pray God that no Indians should suffer from these kind of new breed techpreneurs. One day I have received an SMS from Fast2SMS regarding Price drop Alert ! Genex Gluxy 6 GB/128 GB) Ravel Black 48MP+8MP+5MP camera, 20 MP front Camera MRP-Rs.9999/- Today Price Rs.2999/- c1v.in/9/a on 18-06-2020. This message was received when there was great campaigns regarding Boycotting China products in different news channels and newspapers in India. So, I thought of in a general middle class family and with some greed, that erhaps apprehending loss to be incurred by the Boycott of chineese products, this importer has tried to sell its stocks to minimize further losses and purchased 01 nos online and surprisingly this product was available online for sale , even with facility of Online payment and without COD (cash on delivery option). So, due to greed and middle class mentality, I have purchased one and paid Rs.2999/- online through PayuMoney online payment gateway and through BHIM UPI. (Copy of the payment and purchase reference is attached as proof for my readers). The next day, I received a Telecall regarding the confirmation of the payment as well as confirmation of the order. And surprisingly after 7 days while checking the status of the product whether it is dispatched or not , I found amazingly that the website (e-commerce portal) no more available. Getting surprised , I tried to search for details who own that website details where I have purchased that product and even received a reply mail also. The e-commerce portal name was mobiletrolly.in (Order MT3535) and the website was owned by DHARMA STYLES and domain name was registered by GODADDY.COM and was registered first on 08/06/2020 and was updated on 13/06/2020. Surprisingly there was no address or any name mentioned against and even no contact e-mail ID or telephone numbers in the Registrant website information. https://whois.domaintools.com/mobiletrolly.in). Getting confirmed that , I was being cheated, (I think, not only me, perhaps thousands or lakhs of middle class greedy people like me who are not able to afford a good feature mobile in such a low price) most have lost their heard earned money by this time, I have written this blog and also know that, no such losers like me might not have time and source to read my blog), I have tried to search further more and tried to trace this fake vendor. Then I tried searching in the payment gateway partner that is PayuMoney. I found it more surprised that, as a payment gateway service provider, these 3rd party service provider does not make any documentation while affliating/partnering the e-commerce portals (I am not saying this, the website of that payment gateway service provider indicates this) **proof attached here for reference. NO DOCUMENT REQUIRED TO START. Amazing ! Even no KYC policies required to collect money from clients and no authenticity required to start these kind of cheating business. Thanks to Modi 2.o who has liberalized Indian economy to digital economy with the highest freedom ! Cheers Modi 2.0 again.
(Here let me opine. Since the last 8 years I am running 02nos e-commerce portals named as Odiabookbazar.Com and Indiabookbazar.Com and I have also taken CCAvenue as a 3rd party payment gateway service provider and I have submitted many documents under the KYC policies like a court affidavit in Rs.100/- Non Judicial stamp Paper, PAN Card, Bank Account Proof, Address proof, ownership proof of Domain name details etc and experienced how much it was difficult to get a 3rd party payment gateway integration during UPA 2.0. but in Modi 2.0 I found how much easy of doing business in India and people and entrepreneurs unnecessary blaming Modi Govt. Alas !, but people should know that, the present Govt. has given us plenty of liberty to do corrupted business in the name and title of different reformation and amending Companies Act, bringing GST Act etc… this is a clear cut example for my readers).
Still, while again searching further more, just to write this case blog, I found that message received from PayuMoney, “Your payment (Id-329969576) of Rs.2999.0/- for Vicebear.in is successful. For queries on your payment visit : http://pmny.in/FI16L8HEhtoCj)”. This payment message clearly indicates that, the payment gateway is linked to the website Vicebear.in. From the recordsavailable, this website is registered by Adsprout and domain name registered by GODADDY.COM and was registered also during the Covid Period – March only. Surprisingly there was no address or any name mentioned against and even no contact e-mail ID or telephone numbers in the Registrant website information. And mobiletrolly.in registered in Uttar Pradesh while Vicebear.in registered in Delhi. And more surprisingly both the web sites are not available more in the world wide web.
Case-2
The great Covid-19 shutdown/lockdown has promoted the large middleclass Indians to become good cooks, and social media friendly citizens, as almost there was no work in home and seating almost idle, people start downloading movies, recipe channels in you tube and the promotion of newly concept learning of zoom classes and webinars and so many chats, messages and fully utilization of the social media and different youtubers. This resulted in high consumption of band width and people like me who used to depend on the great Ambanis , I mean, great Jio failed to offer requisite bandwidth even for hosting and maintaining my e-commerce portal. So, I decided to go for an additional alternative source of internet from Airtel. And tried to purchase a wifi dongle of Airtel online , due to Shutdown phenomena, as there was no other physical alternatives available with me. So, while searching for that product, I found that product out of stock in most of the e-commerce portals but surprisingly found one available in one e-commerce portal STAYATHOME.CO.IN. From the name, I could not apprehend that , this portal was specifically launched for Covid-19 non warriors like me and I have purchased one by giving online payment of Rs.2751/-. (including shipping charges) Just like other e-commerce portals, I received an order confirmation email also. But this time, the payment gateway was MOBIKWIK / ZAAKPAY and the transaction Id was – 014713609048 dated. 26/05/2020. Even after the lockdown-5, when I did not receive the products , I tried to contact the e-commerce company and in their Contact Us page found Call on Working Days Between 11:00 AM to 5 :00 PM – +91 -6262602919 , 20, 21, 22, 23 and I tried in contacting in all these numbers , but nothing to do except crying foul. All contact numbers were out of order ! Alas. How much fake people are ! Really a good business model. After failing to contact in the given numbers, I tried to the email from which I had received the purchase confirmation message and thanks to god , received a reply whatever the case may be. But no clarification was given regarding the out of order contact numbers given. And my doubt came true when I have tried mailing them regarding update of my status and receiving no further reply responses from their side. Now I am confirmed that, I had already burnt my fingers out. Nothing to say more. Rather I felt to remain silent without wasting my valuable time and time of my readers.
Case-3
Similar kind of bad experience I incurred in purchasing an anti virus from an e-commerce portal ITONLINESTORE.COM 01 year guardian internet security and the same happened again but with a very much low amount of Rs.275/-only. Surprisingly, though I have purchased many items before from this e-commerce portal, during this pandemic Covid-19, I faced non compliance of my grievance, might be due to this pandemic perhaps, but a sorrowful event happened with me which I am bound to write.
Analyzing the drawbacks and Policies relating to this fraud :
- Indian Govt. has no policy regarding the registration of website, that is why people are able to register websites without any name and address and contact number and converting it to e-commerce portals and cheating people. Though websites are registered international basis under ICANN , but registrar like Godaddy etc. can ask for documentation regarding ownership authentication which is one of the greatest lacuna in our system .
- No doubt, Indian Govt. has simplified and launched different small payment banks for promotion of financial inclusion and digital economy, but without proper KYC as defined before Modi Govt. That is one of the major reason, people are opening e-commerce portals and selling products and collecting money from different customers without any obligation and without any proper documentation.
- Just like I have signed MoU with CCAvenue before implementing 3rd party payment gateway integration in my e-commerce portals, I remember and also have the proof that, there was a condition, in case the e-commerce portal/website does not able to fulfil the required product and services sold by it, and the customer raises the dispute with that of 3rd party payment integration company, they have to deduct the disputed amount from the next payout if the claim by the customer is proved as true. But surprisingly, in case the payment gateway, say PayuMoney, even the payment service provider does not have address or tel no or email to contact in its website (I did not find to raise the dispute, or ask to provide me the address details of the e-commerce player registered to get the service to raise the dispute).
- Without keeping the identity of the website/ e-commerce portal, providing them the payment integration with a bank for collecting the payment is questionable from the policy guidelines front.
- Also, it is more astonished that, an e-commerce portal selling products in mobiletrolly.in while collecting payment in another name that is Vicebear.in. This makes me think about the problem in existing policy matter, that , how a company sells product in one name while collects payment in another name ??? Where the rule stands ?? I mean to say that, if the company submits the documents for 3rd party payment gateway integration in mobiletrolley.in, how it integrates its payment structure with Vicebear.in , I am confused. As in my case, when I have applied for CCAvenue payment gateway for both my e-commerce portal, I have signed separate agreements for each e-commerce portal and submitted affidavit separately. But it is now possible as advertised in the website of Payumoney, no documentation required. Is not a policy issue ???
- If it can be considered as a IT fraud, then also, no benefit will be received in filing the cases in any police station, as there is no address available, no name available, and even the amount is very much less than the limit amount fixed for taking up cyber fraud cases in India.
As an owner of 2 e-commerce portal, being cheated by more than 2 e-commerce portals being registered outside my state cheating people all over the country, now I am apprehending that, people sometimes asking and doubting my integrity of supplying books after receiving the full payment is justified, as I suppose, they might have the victim of such kind of fraudulent practices of other e-commerce portals. But I rest assure all my customers (present/past/future) that, we Odia people belongs to the land of the Lord Jagannath and never thought of cheating people to become Crore patis and to pose photos in news channels and other medias as big entrepreneurs by these kind of fraudulent practices. Today, I realized, why it is very much difficult to our Odia people not to make a company having presence and brand name all over India…bcoz we never enlarge our guts to cheat people like great ……
I hope, my opinion may hurt somebody, some budding entrepreneurs and some business nam, some may comment that I am narrow minded ogera ogera…. But does not make any difference to me.
Hope readers can comment to my free opinion. And can comment and mention in comment box the names of any e-commerce or any company by whom they are cheated , so that other peoples will not get cheated again by these fraudulent companies.
Lastly, I will suggest my readers to purchase through CoD only from the portals where CoD facilities are available, in order to get rid of these frauds.
Free Opinion 