The Risk Of Borrowing Money To Illegal Loans, Users Are Redirected To Other Applications

Illegal lenders promise fast disbursement of funds with minimal conditions (AntaraNews)

JAKARTA – Borrowing money through an online loan platform that is not registered with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) is very risky for users, one of which is that the borrower's data will be directed to another application. Until now, a number of illegal online loan applications are still available on the Google Play Store application store.

The victims will also be required to download other applications. The directive will trap the victim into a cycle of debt with high interest. However, the Minister of Communication and Information is working with Google to remove illegal borrowing applications that are in its application store. This is intended to break the chain of illegal lending that has taken many victims.

"KTP data is used by the organizers to apply for loans in other applications," said National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo at the signing of the Joint Statement for the Eradication of Illegal Online Loans, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

Not only that, the data of the borrower who has paid off the loan is not immediately deleted by the borrower. Listyo explained that the pinjol platform had its own reasons for not being included in the system.

He also revealed that illegal loans often collect loans in unnatural ways when loans that must be repaid are paid late. The borrower will call the contact number stored on the borrower's cellphone to pay off the loan with certain threats.

"If there is a delay in payment, the lender will collect the names in the contact," said Listyo.

In the last three years, there have been a number of cases originating from Pinjol that have entered the realm of law. Listyo revealed that there have been 14 cases of borrowing since 2018. One of the illegal lending modes is that they often offer quick disbursement of funds on easy terms.

In addition, borrowers are also forced to follow the provisions on the platform, one of which is to allow applications to access contact data stored on the borrower's cellphone.

"Where the contact data in the customer's cellphone can be opened by the lender," he added.

The National Police Chief also revealed that the methods of collecting debts carried out by illegal borrowers were not in line with the applicable law. Loan collection regulations have been stated in OJK rule number 77 POJK 01 2016 regarding technology-based lending and borrowing service providers.

Therefore, borrowers are expected not to be tempted by everything promised by illegal lending parties, including fast disbursement of funds and easy loan terms.