Online loan scam drives man to attempt suicide in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, April 17

The next time you receive messages of pre-approved easy loan or find an app on Google Play Store offering loan assistance or easy loan with no paperwork, think twice before accepting such an offer. This could be a well-planned trap, which may not only land you in trouble but also entangle you and your family into a web of threats, abuse, blackmail and extortion.

The same has happened with city-based Sachiv Kumar (45), who in the past four days had gone through the toughest time of his life as he was badly bullied and threatened for taking a loan of Rs. 2,100 that he claims he had not even availed from a loan app on Play Store.

Sachiv told The Tribune that he had applied for an online loan of Rs. 3,500 on ‘Loan Assist’ app, which he found on Play Store on March 27 and the loan amount was to be repaid within seven days. However, the loan he applied for was rejected immediately, and thereafter he uninstalled the app on the same day.

He said on March 31, a sum of Rs. 2,100 was credited in his account with Indian Overseas Bank. “Since I uninstalled the app the same day and my application was rejected, I had no idea about the name of the debtor. On inquiry, it was revealed that the said amount was credited by the ‘Loan Assist’ app and it was to be repaid within seven days,” he said.

“I deposited Rs. 1,450 on April 6, but the company messaged they haven’t received any amount. Likewise, he made another transfer of Rs 1,400 and paid Rs. 2,850 in total against the loan amount of Rs. 2,100 within seven days. But the company kept harassing him saying his payment is due,” he added.

He further said at the time of advancement of the loan, he had deposited his PAN and Aadhaar cards and furnished the particulars of his bank account and also sent his photographs. He said despite having paid the loan amount within a time period, the employees of Loan Assist — Subhana, Vinod and other — started blackmailing him to further pay Rs 1 lakh, or else, his nude and obnoxious photographs would be uploaded on social media.

“Not just this, they forwarded me my photo-shopped pictures of my documents with captions stating that I was a rapist, who raped a 10-year-old girl and ran away, a thief and a loan defaulter and anyone who finds me in public should hand me over to the police etc,” Sachiv added.

He further said to extort money, the employees adopted every illegal and nefarious way to harass him. He said being the only breadwinner in the family, all responsibilities were on his shoulders.

“Due to all this tension, my father suffered a brain haemorrhage and paralysis attack and is now bed-ridden and his mother is a heart patient. I was mentally depressed after the employees shared the tampered pictures of my documents with a few of my friends in my contact list. I attempted to end my life and get out of all this, but I realised I can’t let them malign my reputation without any fault of mine,” said Sachiv, adding that he then decided to seek police help and have submitted a written complaint at the Commissioner’s office (the copy of which is in possession of The Tribune).

He said he has been assured by the police that they would trace the fraudsters at the earliest.

How to identify fake loan apps

“To save yourself from falling prey to such fake apps, the users before downloading any app should read the app’s ratings on Play Store and reviews on Google. They must check to verify if the app is connected with a bank or an RBI-registered non-banking financial company (NBFC). Besides, till you are not sure of app’s credibility, the users should avoid submitting their selfies, passport size pictures, Aadhaar card, PAN card or any confidential details like bank account information, credit and debit card PINs, or addresses,” said Palvinder Singh, cyber expert.

Dial 1930 to report cyber frauds

The cyber crime cell of the Punjab Police has recently released 1930 toll-free helpline to report any financial fraud committed via cyber means. Residents can register complaints regarding cyber financial frauds anytime by dialling 1930. A well-equipped and trained team of the state cyber crime cell is working round-the-clock to save the hard-earned money of citizens.

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