Besides arresting 71 in the past few months, the police have also brought down at least 173 loan apps that have been creating havoc in many families.
Published Oct 18, 2022 | 1:34 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 18, 2022 | 1:51 PM
(Creative Commons)
The loan apps menace is claiming lives one after the other without an end. With six suicides in two months and several complaints flooding police stations, the Andhra Pradesh police have swung into action and devised a strategy and protocol to tackle the demon.
And the strategy appears to be paying off.
The police have so far arrested at least 71 persons in the last few months and also brought down at least 173 loan apps that have been creating havoc in many families, especially from the lower middle class in the state.
The police now have decided to serve notices to the app download platforms like Google Play Store for hosting such illegal apps. If there is no response from them, they will be included as co-accused in the first information reports that will be registered in such cases.
“It is a trap laid by these loan app operators, a majority of whom have origin in other countries, especially China. Once the victim downloads the app unknowingly, his entire phone goes under the control of the operator. The app operator will now have access to the phone user’s contacts, messages, photos, videos, and all other activities,” PHD Ramakrishna, DIG (technical services) of the Andhra Pradesh police, told South First.
This, however, is just the beginning.
“Once the victim defaults on repayment with high interest, they will start threatening, abusing, and also in many cases, morph their images to sleaze scenes with those of their family members and forward them to their contacts. Unable to face such social stigma, many end up ending their lives,” the officer said.
Ramakrishna added that a special strategy, standard operating procedures, and protocol have been prepared to deal with such loan app cases.
Among the many cyber crime cases and complaints coming to the police, loan app cases are being dealt with on a priority basis. The police have also launched a campaign to create awareness among the public to call them on toll-free number 1930, in the case of harassment by the loan app operators.
The miscreants had also changed their tack and instead of apps they are operating using websites and sending the links over SMS to register and avail loans.
Overall the Andhra police had identified around 207 fake loan apps and brought down at least 173 with the
help of Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.in) and the app download platforms.
CERT.In is the national agency that is responsible for tackling cyber crime incidents. Websites that have been hosting such loan activities were also blocked with the help of internet gateways.
Geolocation feature detection helps block IPs in Andhra. Ramakrishna also said that with the help of ‘geolocation’ feature they could at least block certain websites and apps from being downloaded or operate in Andhra Pradesh.
If someone in the state wants to download such apps or websites they won’t be able to access as they are blocked in the state, the officer said.
The police are also holding meetings with bankers in all the 26 districts to keep a watch on bank accounts that had been remaining dormant for long and suddenly transacting huge amounts.
“In a majority of the cases, we have found that the a person living in some other state opened a bank account in the state and operating it sitting somewhere else. In such cases, bankers also have some responsibility. They should keep a vigil and watch on the suspicious transactions and report to us,” another senior police official told South First.
Among the total 71 arrested in the past few days, some of them were arrested from Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
The accused are also operating bank accounts in Andhra Pradesh from these states.
While a majority of the arrests were of recovery agents and other staff of these companies police had now shifted focus on the main app developers.
“In some cases, we have detained some app developers and we are looking into their involvement in other cases too. In the case of foreign app developers, it becomes a cumbersome procedure to bring them here and arrest them. However, we are exploring all options to send a strong message to miscreants that we will not spare anyone,” another senior police official told South First.
Police are also exploring the option of registering money laundering cases against instant fake loan apps.
Chinese Instant Loan Apps identified by the Andhra police:
Cash Port, RupeeWay, LoanCube, WowRupee, SmartWallet, GiantWallet, HiRupee, SwiftRupee,
Walletwin, Fishclub, Yeahcash, ImLoan, Growtree, MagicBalance, Yocash, FortuneTree, Supercoin,
RedMagic and so on.
Indian / other countries’ Instant Loan Apps:
Raise cash, PP money, Rupees master, Cash ray, Mobipocket, Papa money, Infinity cash, Kredit
mango, Kredit marvel, CB loan, Cash advance, HDB loan, Cash tree, Raw loan, etc.
