MUMBAI: People want small loans urgently ended up getting abused after they downloaded Chinese apps. Victims are getting abusive calls and their names are being maligned among friends on social media and family contacts, accessed after agents got access when the victim downloads the app and granted permission. In January, Telangana police arrested a Chinese, HE Jian alias Mark (26), from Jiangxi, from Thane.
A Mumbai man ended his life due to harassment by agents. Maharashtra cyber cell Twitter handle receives at least four complaints a week from victims.
Last year on November 27, TV serial writer Abhishek Makwana (37) died by suicide allegedly following harassment by loan sharks of the apps. Makwana’s family has been receiving threats after his death to repay a “loan”. Charkop police registered an FIR. Makwana’s brother Jenis said, “The agents are harassing and threatening his family and friends for repayment.”
Cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia said he got text messages from an app that hacked into the contacts list of his client. Bhatia’s wife Nirali, a cyber-psychologist, got complaints from traumatized victims after they took small loans but are paying more than 100% and still are being abused. The app is used to blackmail victims even if loans are paid.
Some people who did not take loans are getting threats to pay EMIs as their number is being taken from those who took a loan. “The client took a loan for his son’s blood transfusion. A cyber expert too received a text message maligning his client’s name who took Rs 1.8 lakh loan and ended up paying Rs 4 lakh, but still money is being demanded,” Bhatia said. A girl said she received a rape threat for one-day delay for a Rs5,000 loan.
Around five lakh people have been scammed of more than Rs 15 crore since March 2020 end. Joint commissioner of police Yashasvi Yadav said the apps were unauthorised.