Hyderabad: Cyberabad police have registered 661 criminal cases related to illegal loan apps and harassment by recovery agents since 2022, exposing the growing menace of unauthorised digital lending platforms preying on people in urgent need of money. The highest number of cases was recorded in 2024 at 246, but the figure has declined since then, with 55 cases registered till June this year.
Data compiled by the Cyberabad cybercrime department showed that police arrested 24 persons, filed 18 chargesheets, disposed of 478 cases and traced 45 accused operating outside Telangana. However, 165 cases remain under investigation.
Cyberabad cybercrime DCP T. Sai Manohar said public preference for quick online loans over traditional banks was a major reason behind these frauds. “Fraudsters exploit this demand by offering instant loans with minimal restrictions through unauthorised applications and platforms despite not having RBI approval or licences,” he said.
According to the data, 506 victims were men and 155 women. Age‑wise analysis revealed that those between 26 and 35 years accounted for the largest share (308), followed by 36‑45 years (165) and 18‑25 years (100). Private employees were the most affected occupational group (343 victims), followed by self‑employed persons (145) and students (75).
DCP Saketh Manohar said victims often unknowingly compromised their privacy while applying for loans through fake platforms. “In many cases, victims share sensitive personal information and grant access permissions to their mobile phones. Once fraudsters gain access, they resort to aggressive recovery methods, including repeated harassment calls, contacting family members and friends, misusing personal photographs, creating morphed images, tracking locations and issuing threats,” he said.
He added that harassment often caused severe emotional distress, public humiliation and financial losses. Two persons who died by suicide since 2022 cited loan app harassment, and one case invoked abetment to suicide charges. Manohar said psychological trauma among victims was a matter of serious concern.
The Cyberabad crime police gained insights in their probe of illegal loan apps and harassment by recovery agents from 2022.
Men: 506
Women: 155
Most affected age group
26-35 years: 308
36-45 years: 165
18-25 years: 100
Occupation-wise victims
Private employees: 343
Self-employed: 145
Students: 75
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
