A fake loan app is harassing me and my contacts from Shimla; how do I stop it?
DI Asked by Dinesh Rathod from India
Quick Answer
Fake loan app harassment is prosecuted under Sections 351 and 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation and extortion, read with Section 66D of the IT Act.
Detailed Legal Analysis
Fake loan app harassment is prosecuted under Sections 351 and 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation and extortion, read with Section 66D of the IT Act. File an FIR at the Shimla cyber police station and report the app to the RBI's Sachet portal and the CERT-In for takedown.
The app accessed your contacts and gallery without consent, which is also an offence under Section 66 of the IT Act for unauthorised access. The Himachal Pradesh High Court can direct the police to investigate the app's promoters and to restrain the harassment of your contacts.
Himachal Pradesh Rent Control Act 2012 on money-lending makes unlicensed lending a separate offence, and the state's police can act on the racket. Preserve the loan agreement, the harassment messages and the call recordings as evidence.
Block the app's numbers and inform your contacts that the messages are part of a fraud, not a genuine default.
Legal Provisions Referenced
Verify the current statutory text at India Code (the official repository of Indian legislation) or the Legislative Department. This answer is general legal information, not advice on your specific matter.
Disclaimer: AI-generated for educational purposes only. Does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.