e-commerce
Vi ties up with Niyo to make overseas spending simpler
MUMBAI: Vi is giving international travellers one less thing to worry about this holiday season. The telecom operator has partnered with travel banking fintech Niyo to offer zero forex markup cards to Vi customers, marking a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a telco and a travel finance platform in India.
Under the partnership, Vi users travelling abroad for holidays, work or education can get a Niyo Zero Forex Markup Card delivered to their doorstep within 24 hours. The card can be requested directly through the Vi App, where customers are guided through a quick KYC process, card setup and a trial transaction with assistance from a Niyo executive. Those outside Niyo Express service areas can activate the card digitally through the Niyo App.
The move strengthens Vi’s growing international travel portfolio, which already includes Truly Unlimited international roaming packs, discounted family plans, lounge access, travel insurance and baggage protection. With Niyo on board, Vi adds a financial convenience layer that helps travellers spend smarter while overseas. Accepted in over 180 countries, the Niyo Forex card processes transactions at base exchange rates, helping users avoid the usual 3 to 5 percent forex markup.
As an introductory offer, Vi customers also receive Niyo’s Premium service free for a year. The benefits include annual travel savings worth up to Rs 10,000, zero convenience fees on visa and flight bookings, discounts on international hotels, complimentary lounge access and free ATM withdrawals each quarter.
The partnership builds on Vi’s recent efforts to enhance its international roaming proposition, including discounted packs for Vi Family Postpaid users, travel insurance coverage of up to Rs 40 lakh and baggage protection against delays or loss. With the Niyo Forex Card now in the mix, Vi positions itself as a one-stop companion for international travel, combining connectivity, cost control and peace of mind from take-off to touchdown.
e-commerce
Amazon unveils first Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report
32,000 bad actors targeted, 15 million fake products removed in 2025.
MUMBAI: In a marketplace where trust is the real currency, Amazon is showing its receipts. Amazon has released its first-ever Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report, offering a detailed look at how it polices its vast digital shelves from counterfeit crackdowns to scam detection and review authenticity. At the heart of the report is a four-pronged strategy, proactive controls, risk anticipation, enforcement against bad actors, and consumer protection. The scale is staggering. Since 2020, Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit has pursued over 32,000 bad actors globally through litigation and criminal referrals spanning 14 countries.
The clean-up drive accelerated in 2025, with the company identifying and disposing of more than 15 million counterfeit products worldwide. Legal action also led to the takedown of over 100 websites linked to fake reviews and scams, an ongoing battle in the age of algorithmic manipulation.
Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence and machine learning are doing the heavy lifting. Amazon says it monitors billions of daily interactions across listings, reviews, and seller activity to spot trouble before it surfaces. Its predictive systems can even flag potentially infringing listings for trending products before brands raise the alarm.
Tools like Omniscan, which verifies product safety information at scale, and SENTRIX, designed to detect and eliminate phishing websites, are part of this expanding tech arsenal. Together, they aim to reduce risk while keeping the platform usable for legitimate sellers.
That balance between protection and friction is a tightrope Amazon acknowledges. Rohan Oommen, Vice President of Worldwide Customer and Partner Trust, noted that while safeguards are critical, they must not stifle genuine businesses. Features like the Account Health Dashboard are meant to give sellers clearer visibility into compliance and performance.
Consumer-facing measures are also getting sharper. From direct safety alerts to recall notifications and refund guidance, Amazon is leaning into transparency, backed by partnerships with consumer organisations to raise awareness.
The report’s release follows the expansion of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit into India, signalling a deeper push into one of its fastest-growing markets, with closer coordination planned between brands, sellers, and law enforcement.
In short, as online shopping grows more complex, Amazon is betting that trust built through data, enforcement, and a fair bit of algorithmic vigilance will be its most valuable product yet.
