Learn proper English and do due diligence before transacting online

In these days of financial inclusion/inclusive growth/bridging the digital divide, businesses are actively trying to make to easy for non English speakers to use their services. Be it Google(search in 8+ Indian languages), multi language websites using Google Translate, multi lingual call centres etc, efforts are being made. However, the terms and conditions(be terms of use/conditions/fine print) invariably stays in English(or English IS the authoritative version in case of differences). Hence, people who know just a smattering of English may even be able to transact online, but they cannot/do not make the effort to completely understand the product/services/perform due diligence. That is why so many people get conned, when just a simple Google search and some critical thinking would have warned them. Some evergreen cons:

1. Send money before getting the appointment letter
2. Multi  level marketing
3. Nigerian lottery scams
4. Online shopping sites of dubious repute
5. Time sharing at holiday resorts

All these are chronicled with ample depth online(even by RBI/regulatory agencies). And yet, people get conned. I'm not passing a value judgement/stereotype here, but in the 4-5 consumer complaint sites I've visited, bulk of the complaints have been written in ALL CAPS, broken English, insulting tone, incomplete and childish manner. People have obviously not tried to research it online/write a letter to the company but expect that by posting their complaint for free on a random website, a magic genie will resolve the problem for them. When will the morons learn that nothing of value is free?

Of course, getting conned happens even to those who speak impeccable English and who should have known better(for example even a bank manager(!) got conned in the Nigerian lottery scam). But a majority of those who helplessly seek advice from strangers are of the type I mentioned. Unfortunately, good written English and persistence is needed to navigate the consumer care labyrinth of most companies. Having extracted refunds after multiple attempts, from Airtel, Uninor, Dell, HDFC and ICICI, I can vouch for this with abundant experience. So if people expect that the invisible hand of the market will protect them who only transact blindly, then they are in for trouble.