APP Trap: Why Google’s big ban drive is useless

Poor scrutiny at Google has allowed hundreds of illegal digital lending apps to emerge on the tech giantrsquos Play Store said officers from Mumbai policersquos Cyber Cell They said Indian agencies toiled for months to get nearly 1000 mobile loan apps removed from Google Play Store but about 1100 such apps backed by Chinese loan sharks entered the Android ecosystem in just two months A senior Google official recently claimed they banned over 2000 such appsOfficers investigating the massive loan app scam believe it will hardly make any difference until these nonbanking financial companies NBFCs adhere to the KYC know your customer norms to operate in India which is a must as per RBI guidelines Sources said Mumbai Cyber Cell and Maharashtra Cyber a nodal agency have sought the KYC details of more than 500 apps from GoogleA screenshot of a search for loan apps on Play Store Representation picOfficers investigating the multicrore mobile loan app scam in which recovery agents extorted money loan app borrowers by abusing and blackmailing them said the Chinese crooks have got over 1100 new instant loan apps on Google Play Store ldquoGoogle is not verifying the details of these apps Instead it is allowing them to function by charging just 25 dollars for each apprdquo said a cyber copAlso Read Mumbai Missing autistic teen found in nullahReports said Saikat Mitra senior director and head of trust and safety at Google AsiaPacific claimed they banned scores of apps after a combination of policy violations user reports and collaboration with various law enforcement agencies and policy bodiesInvestigators from the Cyber Cell said Indian agencies worked hardCops want loan apps to strictly adhere to KYC norms Representation picPutting cold water on the efforts of Indian agencies the Cyber Cell officers said scores of dubious apps sneaked past Google Play Storersquos filters ldquoWe have also noticed that some apps removed earlier have resurfaced on the Play Store Also it has come to our notice that similar email IDs were used in uploading multiple apps on the Play Storerdquo said an officerlsquoMultiple reminders to GooglersquoSources said Mumbai Cyber Cell and Maharashtra Cyber a nodal agency have asked Google to share the KYC details of over 500 loan apps ldquoIt appears that KYC was not done properly and only an email ID was provided which had a server in China The tech giant is not taking proper details of these apps while allowing them to run on its platformrdquo said an officer requesting anonymityThe police have also asked Google to share the process it followed in letting apps that engage in illegal digital lending which is not permitted under RBI rules on the Play Store As per the norms of the Reserve Bank of India NBFCs that are into digital lending have to declare their details to the RBI and the info is available on the central bankrsquos websiteldquoGoogle should verify these details with Indian authorities before allowing them to run on their platform which is not happening About 99 per cent of illegal digital lending apps having a China link are functioning through the Play Store and despite multiple reminders and requests made to Google about these apps there is a lack of cooperation from Googlerdquo a senior officer from Maharashtra policeNot just Play Store the Chinese kingpins are also promoting the dodgy loan apps on social media platforms through advertisements ldquoWe are in the process of informing social media platforms to block such pages promoting loans and engaging in other cyber frauds and some influencers who have been sharing links to these loan app sites to promote them on their pages are also on our radarrdquo said the officerScam bigger than expectedAmid investigations by the police in multiple states city cops said that the loan app scam appears to be much bigger than it was initially estimatedThe Delhi police which has arrested 22 people so far in connection with its investigation recently said that the fraud could be more than Rs 5000 crore Mumbai cops said they will be able to give the exact figure at the time of filing the charge sheetldquoIt requires the attention of the central government to ensure that these apps are not allowed on the Play Store or any other platform Google needs to do a proper KYC of these apps and they shouldnrsquot be allowed if they are into digital lending without having permission from Indian agenciesrdquo said a senior home department official refusing to be identifiedAt the time of going to press Google was yet to respond to middayrsquos email seeking its version1000No of apps Indian agencies got removed from Play StoreSome new loan apps on Play Store So Cash CashBus Loan Instant Personal App Goldsea Cash Online Instant Loan App HappyCash Pradhan MantriYojana Cash advance Money advance Step by step guide Acade Me Hub Discover Loan CASe Personal Loan App CASHe Cash Manager