Nearly 1,500 complaints against digital lending apps this year

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police is cracking down on digital money lending applications, with nearly 1,500 complainants seeking help this year. 

According to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, 1,427 complaints were registered this year with the government launching 1930 as online financial fraud reporting number.

Police said actions were taken on the complaints received so far. However, only two FIRs were registered, according to the cyber police - one each in Ernakulam and Wayanad. Action to remove 72 instant loan mobile applications and freeze their accounts is underway.

The police are also working with the national portal to take action against the App Store and Play Store that host loan apps, and also the websites. The police will verify complaints received at the state level and forward them to the national portal for action.

Although many people have fallen victim to loan app scams, the number of complainants has also increased as suicides have been reported. Recently, a couple in Kochi killed their children before taking their own lives after falling prey to an instant loan scheme.

Yesterday, the police gave out a number, 9497980900, for people to report loan app scams. Five complaints were received on this number, which were forwarded to the national portal.