Fake 'Prasad' Sold Online: Is Your Order Real?
Amazon was fined ₹1 lakh by India's consumer watchdog for hosting a fake 'Ayodhya Prasad' listing. Learn how misleading online product claims work, what your rights are, and how to protect yourself from religious or institutional name misuse in ecommerce.
That ₹500 'temple prasad' box online may cost less than your weekly chai budget — and still be completely fake.
Your online purchase could be a fake using religious names to trick you
Key Takeaways
Check the seller's credentials before buying any product that uses a temple name, government scheme, or charitable trust branding — look for official authorisation mentions in the listing.
Report suspicious or misleading product listings directly to the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915 or visiting consumerhelpline.gov.in — complaints can name both the seller and the platform.
Avoid paying premium prices for 'official' religious or government-branded food items online unless the listing links to a verifiable trust, ministry, or government body as the actual seller.
Amazon was fined ₹1 lakh by India's consumer watchdog for hosting a fake 'Ayodhya Prasad' listing. Learn how misleading online product claims work, what your rights are, and how to protect yourself from religious or institutional name misuse in ecommerce.
Here's what happened: CCPA imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on Amazon India for allowing a seller to market ordinary sweets under the misleading label 'Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad' without authorisation.. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust — the official body managing the Ayodhya temple — had not authorised any commercial seller to use its name or the prasad branding for retail products.. Under India's Consumer Protection Act 2019, using false or misleading descriptions — including fake religious or institutional affiliations — qualifies as an unfair trade practice that consumers can legally challenge..
What you should do: Check the seller's credentials before buying any product that uses a temple name, government scheme, or charitable trust branding — look for official authorisation mentions in the listing.. Report suspicious or misleading product listings directly to the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915 or visiting consumerhelpline.gov.in — complaints can name both the seller and the platform.. Avoid paying premium prices for 'official' religious or government-branded food items online unless the listing links to a verifiable trust, ministry, or government body as the actual seller..
Ecommerce platforms are jointly liable under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020 — you can claim a refund AND report the platform, not just the third-party seller, when misled.
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This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.
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