Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 11 September 2023
Andaman and Nicobar Police have issued a crucial advisory in response to a rising wave of complaints regarding fraudulent mobile apps and websites offering online loans. These deceptive platforms, which promise micro-loans of a few thousand rupees, have been targeting unsuspecting victims in a scam that involves harassment, threats, and potential data breaches.
Victims who have borrowed from these apps often find themselves in a harrowing situation even after repaying the loan. Scammers falsely claim that the payment was rejected and relentlessly pressure the victims into making additional payments. If the victim refuses, they face threats of the distribution of edited and compromising images, along with vulgar captions, to the victim’s contacts. In some cases, scammers extend their harassment to the victim’s family members, leveraging the access they have gained to the victim’s contact list.
These malicious apps, upon installation, request permission to access the user’s phone contacts, gallery, and more. Once granted access, these apps surreptitiously transmit the user’s data to the scammers, who then exploit it to intimidate and torment the victim. Depending on the permissions provided by users, these apps can collect sensitive information such as photos, audio, video, messages, and contact lists, which are subsequently used to intensify the harassment against the victim.
In response to these alarming developments, the Andaman and Nicobar Police have issued the following advisory:
1. Avoid Installing Online Loan Apps: Citizens are strongly urged not to install mobile apps that offer online loans, as these are highly likely to be created by scammers.
2. Check App Permissions: When installing new mobile apps, carefully review the permissions requested by the app to ensure that it does not have access to personal information.
3. Regularly Monitor Installed Apps: Periodically check your phone for any mobile apps that you may not have knowingly installed.
4. Report Abusive Recovery Agents: Refrain from giving in to the abusive tactics employed by recovery agents associated with these fraudulent loan app companies. In such cases, promptly report the matter to the Police.
5. Protect Your Documents and SIM: Do not provide your documents for the opening of bank accounts to be operated by someone else, and do not allow anybody else to use your SIM card. These can be misused for illegal purposes.
For assistance, information, or inquiries related to cybercrime, please contact the Cyber Cell in Port Blair at Phone Number 03192-230668 or visit the website cybercrime.gov.in.
The Andaman and Nicobar Police are committed to safeguarding the public from online fraud and are actively working to investigate and prevent such scams. They encourage citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.