Patna: In a strong public warning, cyber authorities have asked people not to download or use 10 fake loan apps that promise instant money but end up trapping users in fraud and harassment. Officials say these apps are linked to hostile foreign operators and are being used as tools for financial fraud and digital blackmail. The alert comes at a time when more people are turning to mobile apps for quick loans.
The apps identified include Diya Credit App, Rupenex App, Fund Access App, Becharaji Digital Ledger App, OakLoan – Personal Loan App, CarePay – Simple Loans & Fast Cash App, Credible App, Rupee Lake – Line Credit App, Easy Fund App and MoneyDak App. Many of them have high ratings and thousands of positive reviews on app stores, which authorities believe may be fake. These ratings create a false sense of trust and encourage people to install them without proper checks.
According to an analysis by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the fraud begins with online advertisements offering quick loans without paperwork. Once installed, the apps ask for access to contacts, photos, messages and location. Investigators say this data is then transferred to servers outside India. Victims often do not realise that they have given full access to their personal information.
The loan terms are also unfair. Users are usually offered short-term loans of seven to 15 days. Before the loan amount is credited, 30% to 40% is deducted as processing fees. A borrower applying for Rs 10,000 may receive much less but is still required to repay the full amount within days. When repayment is delayed, the harassment begins. Victims receive threatening calls, and in some cases, their relatives and friends are contacted using stolen phone data.
Officials say some victims have even reported that their photos were edited and used to threaten them with public humiliation. Cyber experts describe this as a new and dangerous form of digital extortion. Authorities have advised people to borrow only from institutions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and to carefully check the background of any financial app before downloading it.
If someone becomes a victim of such fraud, they should immediately call the national cyber helpline number 1930 or file a complaint on the official cybercrime portal. Officials say awareness and caution remain the strongest protection against fake loan apps.
