The Executive Director of Data Protection Commission, Madam Patricia Adusei-Poku has warned Ghanaians about the continuous distractions from some illegal online loan apps and software designers as a result of non-payment of loans acquired from these illegal online financial software.
In an interview, madam Patricia noted that, digital loan services have become an increasingly easy avenue for people to access credit, as many are unable or ineligible to secure loans through traditional providers such as the banks.
She stated that, these online loan applications have abnormal loan interest adding that the Data Protection Commission in recent times has received tons of complaints regarding the harassment and debt-shaming approaches these online digital loan services are used to deal with defaulters hence the need to avoid loan acquisition from them to avoid the shame and distractions.
Madam Patricia revealed that these online loan applications are unlicensed and therefore have no authorization to operate, stressing that the apps require certain permissions upon installation, including access to users’ private information such as their contacts, text messages, location, images, and calendar with the data collected being used to debt shame when borrowers default in payment of the accessed loan
She has therefore advised the citizenry to stay away from these application programs to protect their privacy
“It has been difficult for developers of these apps to be clamped down by the Bank of Ghana and cyber security department because of their operation criteria which are centered online with no physical offices to make it possible for their detention”, Madam Patricia said.
She stressed that some creators also live outside the country with only their representatives in Ghana supporting these fraudulent activities hence making it difficult for Bank of Ghana and cyber security to cause their arrest and prosecution.
“Once your privacy is exposed, it becomes very difficult to clear them unless the person in question is compelled to delete them and so it is important to stay away from disbursing personal information to unknown source as a result of destitution”, she concluded.
