Dark patterns cost Indian shoppers up to Rs 28,000 cr a year; Flipkart, Cleartrip flagged
Datum Intelligence pegs annual consumer loss to online dark patterns at Rs 25,000-28,000 crore, hitting 88% of 304 million buyers. Hidden charges jumped to 63% from 52%. Amazon leads trust at 50%; Flipkart skews negative (41% distrust vs 37% trust); Cleartrip and BigBasket flagged for severity.
What happened
Datum Intelligence report estimates Indian consumers lose Rs 25,000-28,000 crore yearly to dark patterns across e-commerce, quick commerce and travel platforms.
Key facts
- Rs 25,000-28,000 crore annual loss
- 304 million online buyers
- 88% affected
- Rs 78-87 per month per user
- 63% face hidden charges (up from 52% in 2024)
- 73% platforms use forced actions
- 12 platforms analysed
- 2,590 consumers
- 50 cities
- Amazon 50% trust
- Flipkart 41% distrust vs 37% trust
- 81% aware, 85% misled
- 74% willing to pay more for fair design
Why this matters
Distressed trust scores at Cleartrip and BigBasket plus Flipkart's negative skew open a window for acquirers or partners positioning clean-UX alternatives in travel and grocery verticals.