A loan app is threatening me and messaging my contacts. What can I do?
Keep the messages, do not pay extra 'fees' to make the threats stop, and report the app. Digital lenders must be licensed by the Bank of Ghana, and harassment is not allowed.
Illegal loan apps get access to your contacts and photos when you install them. When repayment is late, or sometimes even before, they send threats and shaming messages to your family and colleagues.
Some 'loan apps' are pure scams: they ask for a processing fee and never pay out the loan.
What to do
- Take screenshots of every threat.
- Check whether the lender is licensed by the Bank of Ghana.
- Remove the app's access to your contacts and photos.
- Warn your contacts not to reply.
- Report the app to the police, the Cyber Security Authority and the app store.
Frequently asked questions
- They want a fee before giving me the loan. Is that normal?
- No. A fee up front to release a loan is a classic loan scam.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for GH₵25.
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