Amid the crackdown by cyber cops from Maharashtra, many other states and neighbouring Nepal on predatory loan apps, a majority of these mobile applications have adopted a new strategy. While many of these instant credit platforms have changed their names on the Google Play Store, several of them are being promoted through ads on the FB and Insta pages of social media influencers, mid-day has found. 

The police action in India and Nepal gained momentum after a series of reports by mid-day highlighted the plight of mobile app borrowers who were being harassed and blackmailed with their morphed photos. The police have established the role of the Chinese money mafia behind this racket.