(Fake) Digital Lending apps Database

Database of Digital lending apps and their playstore metadata

In the previous post on abusive digital lending apps, CashlessConsumer listed 10 apps which seem to have been indulging in abusive lending practices, possibly fraudlent / illegal activities including but not limited to money laundering, extortion.

(Fake) Digital Lending apps & Collection Harassment.

Thanks to Anam Ajmal of Times of India, Google took down all except one app, which too was later pulled down after trademark complaint by Ravi Sethia of Udhaar

Google removes 5 rogue lending applications | India News - Times of India

Google pulls down another 'rogue' app - Times of India

Over the last couple of months, there have been reports of many lives (at least 5 till I could count from media reports).

There have been some action from law enforcement in Telangana with 3 police commissionarates bursting operations of some gangs.

Hyderabad: Chinese woman among 3 held for loan app fraud

Hyderabad police arrest 11 persons for instant loan fraud

The modus operandi seem to be registering fake entities, using whitelabeled software to generate apps, upload and use wallets / UPI for running the operations along with extra-ordinarily high interest (with GST — which is a loot, as these are companies that don’t exist in GST database), social shaming, threatening using data obtained from phone using the app permissions in case of non-payment / delayed repayment.

CashlessConsumer along with @Banbreach is working to burst the shady, abusive practices in digital lending. As part of the collaboration, we are today releasing database of digital lending apps (both by regulated entities and their fintech partners as well as illegal fake apps). The database is not exhaustive as its limited to Google Play information. The database also contains permission data of all these apps and as more apps go offline, we also track apps that are either deleted from Google Play / never available in Google Play. Since some of these apps that originate from China is deployed across South East Asia, the list also contains apps that are for Vietnam, Indonesian markets.

DBHub.io - srikanthlogic / loanapps.db

We will updating the database over the next few days to companies database, adding information on whitelabel software used, operational details of fraudulent digital lending apps. More to follow — We need to save lives!