Survey Reveals Concerns of Indian Online Banking Users about "Dark Patterns

A recent survey by LocalCircles uncovered worries among online banking users in India about sneaky practices called “dark patterns.” Over 44,000 people from 363 districts participated in the survey, unveiling a worrying trend of hidden charges, interface meddling, and subscription traps on online banking websites.

Among those surveyed, a huge 63% said they faced hidden charges when doing online transactions. These charges weren’t told to them upfront and were taken from their accounts later, leaving them feeling tricked.

Of the 11,390 people surveyed, 36% said they often encountered hidden charges, 27% said it happened sometimes, and 9% said it was rare.

Moreover, 41% of users said they faced interface meddling while banking online. This means they were shown extra things to buy during transactions. Of the 11,152 people asked, 23% said it happened a lot, 18% sometimes, and 27% rarely. Surprisingly, 27% of the people said they never faced interface meddling, while 5% weren’t sure.

Another big issue was subscription traps, with 32% saying they got caught in them. These traps make it hard to cancel subscriptions, often needing a visit or call to customer service during limited hours.

The survey shows a need for more honesty and responsibility in online banking. Deceptive practices not only break trust but also risk people’s money. As online banking gets more popular, regulators and banks need to focus on protecting users and making banking fair and clear for everyone.