The investigation into illegal digital lending platforms has gathered momentum in the Kozhikode district after the police received fresh evidence pointing to organised cyber extortion networks operating behind alleged loan apps. One of the latest complaints, filed by a resident of Moozhikkal, highlights the prolonged harassment faced by victims who fall prey to quick-money offers from such digital traps.
According to the complainant, Manu Suvarnan, he has been under threat for more than a year after downloading a mobile application. He alleged that the app operators, who spoke in Hindi, accessed sensitive data from his phone, including his contact list and personal photographs, which were later manipulated and circulated among his acquaintances. He said the manipulated data was used to intimidate and pressure him into paying inflated amounts.
The police said that the information shared by the complainant was being analysed by the cybercrime investigation team to identify those behind these anonymous online operations. Special squads in Kozhikode city and rural jurisdictions added that multiple complaints were being handled with strict confidentiality so as not to alert the accused or compromise the inquiry.
“Assistance from specialised agencies at the State and national levels has been sought to widen the probe. Early findings suggest that many victims are students and young professionals who turned to quick online loans during financial emergencies,” said a senior cyber cell official associated with the probe. He added that many of them had faced harassment, including threats and public shaming, using stolen personal data.
In a related development, the police have linked recent cases from north Kerala to a broader pattern of coercion, citing the disappearance of a youth from Vadakara, who was later traced, as an example of the kind of psychological pressure such loan sharks can exert on borrowers. Officials also said that the money lenders continue to demand excessive interest payments even after borrowers have repaid their loans in instalments.
Officials with the cyber police stations in Kozhikode district said that borrowers were largely misled by aggressively promoted social media campaigns of unknown lending service providers. They pointed out that a lack of awareness about data privacy and digital security further increases the risk of exploitation, along with reluctance to consult financial experts for advice.
“Loan apps are designed to gain extensive access to users’ mobile data at the time of installation. Once access is granted, operators can extract private files and use them as leverage in case of delayed payments,” warned a cyber-security expert with the Kerala Police Cyberdome. “What we see later are aggressive recovery tactics, including threats, defamation and repeated intimidation, which force borrowers to take extreme steps,” he added.
According to officials with the cyber cell, there has been an increase in the number of people using the cybercrime helpline (1930) to quickly report their grievances. Prompt reporting of such incidents will help the police gather concrete evidence and identify those behind them, they said.