How instant loan app harassment usually starts. A young worker needs ₹5,000 before payday and finds an app promising instant loans with no paperwork. It asks for access to contacts and photos, which he allows without thinking.

He receives only ₹3,200 after "processing fees", and the app wants ₹5,000 back in seven days. When he pays, the app says the payment failed or adds a penalty. Then the calls start, and messages go to everyone in his contact list calling him a fraud, sometimes with morphed photos.

Use only lenders listed on the RBI's or your bank's official channels, and never give a loan app access to contacts or the photo gallery. If you are being harassed, keep the screenshots and report it on cybercrime.gov.in. Tell your contacts in advance so the messages have no power.