Srinagar, July 7 -- Umer Tariq

Digital payments have transformed the way business is conducted across Kashmir, making transactions faster and more convenient than ever before. Yet a field-based study across major markets in Srinagar and Anantnag suggests that while technology has advanced rapidly, awareness of digital payment fraud has struggled to keep pace.Interviews with 102 shopkeepers reveal how fake payment confirmations, limited knowledge of cybercrime reporting mechanisms and the exploitation of everyday trust continue to expose local businesses to financial loss.It happens in seconds.A customer scans a QR code, turns the phone around and flashes a familiar green message: 'Payment Successful'.The shopkeeper smiles, hands over the...