Dark Patterns: 12 Tricks Indian Apps Use to Steal Your Money
The Department of Consumer Affairs banned dark patterns in November 2023. Yet millions of Indians still fall victim to them every day. Here are the 12 most common ones — and how to avoid them.
What Are Dark Patterns?
Dark patterns are intentional UI/UX design tricks that manipulate users into doing something they didn't intend — buying something, sharing data, or subscribing to a service. India's CCPA Guidelines on Dark Patterns 2023 classify them as an "unfair trade practice" under the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
The 12 Dark Patterns to Watch Out For
1. False Urgency
Example: "Only 2 left!" or "Sale ends in 00:05:00" — countdown timers that reset when you reload the page.
Who does it: Makemytrip, Cleartrip, MeeshoApp
Fix: Reload the page. If the timer resets, the urgency is fake.
2. Basket Sneaking
Example: Travel insurance, donation to charity, or extended warranty added to your cart without consent.
Who does it: IRCTC (travel insurance pre-ticked), BookMyShow (convenience fee + insurance)
Fix: Always expand your cart and read every line item before payment.
3. Confirm Shaming
Example: Opt-out button says "No thanks, I don't want to save money." Guilts you into clicking "Yes."
Fix: Ignore the emotional framing — read what you're actually agreeing to.
4. Forced Continuity
Example: Free trial ends, card auto-charged without reminder. JioCinema, Spotify, and Netflix all do this.
Fix: Use a virtual card with a spending limit for all free trials. Set a calendar reminder for Day 1.
5. Disguised Ads
Example: Sponsored listings with nearly invisible "Ad" labels in search results on Flipkart and Amazon.
Fix: Sort by "Relevance" without sponsored filter, or scroll past the first 3–4 results.
6. Trick Questions
Example: A double-negative opt-out: "Uncheck this box if you do not want to not receive offers." Confusing by design.
Fix: Slow down. Read every checkbox twice on registration and checkout pages.
7. Hidden Costs
Example: Product shown at ₹999, but GST + platform fee + delivery fee makes it ₹1,347 at checkout.
Who does it: Swiggy, Zomato, Ola
Fix: Always check the final payable amount — compare with the app and web version.
8. Misdirection
Example: Visual design draws your eye to the expensive plan, making the cheaper one hard to find.
Fix: Consciously click "Compare plans" and look for a plain-text version.
9. Roach Motel
Example: Easy to sign up online, but cancellation requires a phone call or a 10-step form.
Who does it: Times Prime, Hotstar, LinkedIn Premium, Truecaller Gold
Fix: Before subscribing, Google "how to cancel [service]" to see how hard it is.
10. Privacy Zuckering
Example: Pre-ticked consent boxes for sharing your data with "trusted partners" buried in settings.
Fix: On any new app, immediately go to Settings → Privacy and turn off all non-essential sharing.
11. Bait and Switch
Example: Advertised product is "out of stock" once you arrive — but a pricier alternative is available.
Fix: Screenshot the advertised price. Under Consumer Protection Act, the company must honor the advertised price or face penalties.
12. SaaS Billing Traps
Example: Charged for a yearly plan when you thought you selected monthly. Downgrade removes all your data.
Who does it: Various B2B SaaS apps, Zoho, Razorpay
Fix: Always read the billing cycle label. Monthly ≠ Annual.
How to Report Dark Patterns
- File a complaint on consumerhelpline.gov.in (National Consumer Helpline — 1915)
- Report to CCPA via the INGRAM portal
- File a case at your state's Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission for compensation up to ₹50 lakh
- Report on ReportConsumer.in — name the company and describe the pattern