As they struggle to crack down on instant loan apps, which involves a tougher regulatory framework, robust technical know-how and seamless coordination among states, Maharashtra Cyber, the nodal agency for cyber security and cybercrime investigation in the state, has come up with an advisory asking citizens not to fall prey to these lending applications. It receives over 100 such complaints daily. 

Officers said they often get in touch with Google to get many loan apps blacklisted, but there are way too many of them to be tackled. Now, fraudsters are reaching out to victims through WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and other social media platforms, said Sanjay Shintre, superintendent of Maharashtra Cyber. The Maharashtra Cyber has shared a list of 15 apps that it says have been actively providing instant loans and then harassing citizens with morphed photographs. The harassment has forced many to take extreme steps.