Srinagar, Oct 9: Jammu and Kashmir Police has cautioned the public against fake loan applications that imitate genuine lending platforms to steal personal information, misuse mobile phone permissions and trap users in fraudulent schemes.
In an advisory posted on its official X handle, @JmuKmrPolice, the police said cybercriminals were using deceptive applications to lure people into online fraud. The warning, tagged to the Jammu and Kashmir Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (JK4C), Cyber Jammu and Cyber Police Kashmir, urged users to exercise caution before installing any loan app.
“Cyber criminals are creating fake Loan Apps that mimic genuine lending platforms to steal your personal information, misuse permissions & trap you in fraudulent schemes,” the advisory stated.
Police listed four precautions for users: verify the developer and company details, check whether the lender is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), examine user reviews for suspicious activity, and avoid sharing sensitive documents or granting unnecessary app permissions.
The advisory urged victims of cyber fraud to report incidents immediately by calling the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or filing a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Prompt reporting of financial cyber fraud can help authorities alert banks and attempt to prevent the further movement of funds.
The warning was circulated with the hashtags #CyberDost, #CyberSafety, #LoanScam, #OnlineSafety and #StayAlert, and tagged MyGov India, Digital India and police units across Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest advisory follows earlier warnings by J&K Police about fraudulent financial applications. On September 30, the force cautioned that scammers were misusing the names, logos and identities of established financial brands to make illegal loan applications appear genuine on app stores and through online promotions.
Earlier advisories had also flagged instant-loan offers that allegedly misuse the identities of non-banking financial companies to collect contacts, personal information and financial details, potentially exposing victims to harassment and financial loss.
Police have separately warned people against fake trading applications and investment advertisements promising unusually high or guaranteed returns. In these cases, too, users have been advised against sharing banking credentials and one-time passwords (OTPs) and urged to report financial losses immediately.
According to the advisory, fraudulent loan applications often target people seeking quick credit by advertising instant approval, minimal paperwork and rapid disbursal. After installation, such apps may seek access to contacts, photographs, messages and files on the user’s phone.
Victims may subsequently be pressured to pay processing fees or verification charges, or to submit additional documents. In some cases, the promised loan is never disbursed, while the information collected through the application may be used for extortion, harassment of contacts or further fraud.
Police have advised residents to treat unsolicited loan offers with suspicion, verify lenders against the RBI’s official records of regulated entities and reject permissions that are unnecessary for an application’s stated purpose. They have also warned against sharing Aadhaar and PAN details, bank statements or OTPs with unverified platforms.
Police have also highlighted the importance of reporting cyber fraud immediately, as stolen funds can move through multiple mule accounts within a short period. Prompt complaints through the designated channels can help authorities and banks take timely action, although recovery of the money is not guaranteed.
Police reiterated that its official X account is not monitored round the clock and should not be treated as a crime-reporting channel. Emergencies should be reported on 112, while cyber fraud complaints should be lodged through 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
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