Mumbai Crime: Two more apps under scanner in loan sharking scam

Obscene messages have been circulated to harass them. Representation pic

Two more victims of the instant loan scam have approached mid-day, which has been reporting the racket since 2020 and has highlighted the ordeal of many others. While one man had borrowed money from Koko, another from Janecoin; both app-based lenders. They repaid more than what they borrowed, but are still being harassed. They have filed complaints with the police, one at Kurar and another at Pelhar, but no one has been apprehended yet.

A 26-year-old resident of Nalasopara East borrowed Rs 5,800 in February in the name of his ailing wife, and little did he know that their lives were going to turn upside down for a few thousand rupees.

Fell victim to Koko

He was in need of money after his wife, who is still ill, underwent a surgery. He downloaded Koko app, a provider of instant loans, on his mobile phone on February 21. It showed that he could get a loan of Rs 50,000. He uploaded his wife's photo, details of her PAN and Aadhaar cards and bank account details.

Morphed photographs and obscene messages were sent to friends and family of both the victims. Representation pic

Later that day, his wife's bank account was credited with Rs 5,800, which was to be repaid by February 27. He failed to pay back on time, and on March 4, he received a reminder text. On March 7, he got a call from someone threatening to defame his wife if he doesn't repay. A few hours later, a friend of his called him to inform that he had received a morphed picture of his wife and a text message filled with profanities, saying I was not paying back the loan.

The man took the phone number and called the person, pleading not to message anyone. He immediately paid back Rs 10,000. Still, the harassers spread the photo and the message, this time to his mother. Scared, he rushed to Pelhar police station, where an FIR was filed against unknown persons under IPC Sections 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating), and others. Besides, Koko and users of three phone numbers were charged with relevant Sections of the IT Act.

Fell victim to Janecoin

A 32-year-old Malad resident, who works at an imitation jewellery workshop, is the latest victim of the instant loan racket. He was looking to take out a loan, as his salary was delayed in April.

On April 27, he downloaded the Janecoin loan app and uploaded all the required information, including bank details and email ID, along with his photo. However, he received a message stating his application was rejected. He then uninstalled the app. However, his bank account was credited with Rs 1,204 twice that day. Next day, he received Rs 3,954 more. In total, he received Rs 6,362.

On May 2, he received a text message asking for a repayment of Rs 2,002, and later he received a link for payment of Rs 2,001 immediately. He made further payments, on May 3, one of Rs 2,001 and another of Rs 5,000. He paid them all, however, he was flooded with abusive calls and threats to make his morphed pictures viral, if he didn't pay. On May 8, his friend received his morphed photo.

"I received Rs 6,362 in my account, but ended up paying Rs 11,004. But, they are still asking for more money, and sending obscene messages, with my morphed pictures, to my friends. I have filed a police complaint now," he said. Kurar police have filed an FIR against the users of four mobile phone numbers under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 500 (defamation) 504 (provoking breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation), and relevant Sections of the IT Act. No arrests have been made in both the cases.