In the midst of a nationwide crackdown on illegal loan apps, a 25-year-old woman from Kuttiyadi attempted suicide on Wednesday, driven to despair by threats from a lending operator. Despite borrowing only Rs 2000, she was coerced into repaying Rs 1 lakh, and the company continued to demand money, resorting to blackmail with morphed nude photos.
“I had paid them by pledging my jewellery. But even after paying, they sent my morphed images and threatened to circulate them,” the distressed woman revealed to the police, highlighting the harrowing tactics employed by fraudsters.
Reports indicate that the scammers gained access to the woman’s phone, forwarding manipulated pictures accompanied by menacing messages. This alarming trend isn’t isolated, as Kerala witnessed a tragic incident in September where a couple in Kochi died by suicide, driven by relentless pressure from online loan sharks.
Faced with an escalating number of suicide cases, Kerala police are taking action. They’ve introduced a dedicated WhatsApp number (94979 80900) for individuals experiencing threats and blackmail due to unauthorized loan apps. Complaints, whether text, photo, video, or voice files, can be submitted 24/7, offering victims a platform to seek assistance. The police, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, will call back complainants if needed, aiming to gather essential details and address the rising crisis spurred by these illicit lending practices.
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