What happened to bank accounts of 30 Illegal lending apps in Nigeria?

Nigeria has finally frozen bank accounts of at least 30 illegal loan apps and digital lending companies.

Nigeria freezes bank accounts of 30 Illegal loan apps, digital lenders

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), says it has frozen no fewer than 30 bank accounts operated by illegal loan apps and digital lending companies in Nigeria.

Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, said this at a media engagement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Irukera also said that the Commission had engaged Google and Apple Stores to take down some other illegal loan apps from their stores, noting that there were certain processes required for that to happen.

He said that the Commission was currently engaging three major online lenders and loan apps in Nigeria which businesses had been affected by the Commission’s raid.

“The day we conducted the raid, we have some limited information about the bank accounts that some of the loan companies operated.

“All the bank accounts that were provided were immediately blocked but these companies operate multiple bank accounts with multiple names.

“Between the time we raided and now, we have discovered additional 30 accounts and all have been frozen and we will continue to freeze as we discover them.

“I am certain that with the actions that we have taken and the nature of the engagement we are having with the loan companies, at least three of the major ones that their businesses have been severely affected by either our search or the account closure, they are modifying.

“It will take some time but I can assure you that the space is changing now,’’ he said.

Irukera called for an improved partnership with the media to educate members of the public on their consumer rights in order to achieve the objectives of the FCCPC.

List of Top 25 Illegal Loan Apps Operating In Nigeria

The following are a comprehensive list of top 25 illegal loan apps in Nigeria. Avoid them at all cost. Avoid them like a plague. Some of them have been banned by the Federal Government and a few have been banned by Google and Apple Play Store. However unfortunately many of them are still operating as at the time of writing this report, scamming and defrauding hapless and poor Nigerians in the name of quick instant lending loans. Be warned, dont fall for any of the following.

1. LCredit
2. 9credit
3. LionCash
4. Nkash
5. ForNaira
6. CycleCash
7. Cashrain
8. Mikoloan
9. Supercash
10. Xcredit
11. ICoin
12. PalmCredit
13. CashLion
14. GoCash
15. Okash
16. EasyCredit
17. Easi Moni
18. KashKash
19. Speedy Choice
20. BorrowNow
21. FastMoney
22. GetCash
23. Gotocash
24. Sokoloan
25. AngelLoan

10 Ways To identify Illegal Loan Apps

1. Accessing the contact’s number and picture stored in mobile phone.
2. Misuse of contact numbers and pictures saved in mobile.
3. Invading customers’ data privacy and sending defamatory and threatening messages to them and their contact list
4. Very high interest and penalties.
5. Deduction of processing and/or security deposit before loan processing
6. Interest deducted before providing the loan.
7. Constant harassment and threats on customers
8. Online Harassment.
9. Harsh and unethical means of recovery.
10. Use of rude and derogatory statement by loan app staff on customers

6 Warning Signs Common With Illegal Loan Apps

1. 1. No verification of previous repayment history
   2. Gives out loan to customes for 7 days tenure instead of minimum of 60 days by law
   3. Creation of sense of urgency and pressurizes into acting immediately
   4. Hidden or undisclosed charges/ fee amounts.
   5. Unsecured websites and in some cases no website at all
   6. No physical address disclosed by lender

5 Safety Measures Against Illegal Loan Apps In Nigeria

1. Check for lenders contact information like phone number, email address and physical address.
2. Verify the online reviews by customers given for the lender.
3. Check the professional reviews on trust worthy lenders.
4. Make sure the loan app has been properly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
5. Review the app permissions regularly and give access permissions ONLY tor the purpose of the loan applied for.

FCCPC Directs Illegal Loan Apps To Stop Compounding Customers’ Interest During Investigations

Meanwhile the Commission has also directed the illegal loan apps to stop compounding interest and loan collection practices during their period of undergoing investigations.

This disclosure is contained in a press statement issued by the Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera.

Irukera in the statement warned that violators of this order will be subjected to the full extent of the law including prosecution (without option of administrative regulatory resolution).

Irukera, however, stated that the order does not include existing borrowers repaying legitimate loans under fair and acceptable terms and conditions or any modifications to previous terms and conditions that are considered onerous, inconsistent with prevailing law or general principles of transparency and fairness.