Groups dedicated to “drop by drop” loans, informal loans with high interest rates, have also turned to digital technology to collect the money they provide to their debtors.
In countries like Peru or Colombia, alerts have been activated due to another method that they have adopted, when using mobile applications to request the money back.
Although part of the so-called “collectors” or “Colombian lenders” continue to use charge cards, others have decided to abandon them and replace them with applications.
“Alert. The National Police of Peru recommends the following: Do not access or download all these applications that are from the Gota a Gota loan ”, detailed the security body of that country on its Twitter account.
In that same notice, the Peruvian Police details a list of these applications and asks that they not be used or downloaded. The applications described are: Credibus, Rapipago, Oroviene, Eastbay, Mas Sol, Pay Valida, Ikori, Ekeko, Menta, Lana hoy, Presta soles, Super credit, Coco credit, Viva credit, Magic box, Peru credit, Billet plus, Currency eat, My wealth, Papisoles, Pop cash, My sun and credit, Meti, E silver, Hinance, Kcartera, Cashio and Ekecash.
Alert 🚨
The National Police of Peru recommends the following:
Do not access or download all these applications that are from the Gota a Gota loan. pic.twitter.com/Dswuf7UDUJ– National Police of Peru (@PoliciaPeru) June 9, 2023
In the Colombian case, Insight Crime indicates in a report that in that country applications for “drop by drop” are also used, so it is likely that this fact complicates the work of the authorities that fight to combat these groups.
The report describes that the ease of access and interaction with customers through mobile applications would explain why the phenomenon of usury persists and spreads.
InSight Crime He found several of these applications available for free and some even with direct references to “drop-by-drop loans.”
Regarding the download and use of these mobile applications in the case of Colombia, according to the publication, collectors should no longer go to the houses to collect, since the app allows them to do so quickly and keep track of their victims. .
Likewise, he adds that these applications allow them to create a customer profile, locate their location, in addition to having at hand the information on the payments of the day, new payments, interest and the status of the loan.
What is the “drop by drop” modality about?
In an intensive campaign, the Ministry of the Interior of Peru is forceful in warning: “The drop-by-drop loan is a crime. Do not fall into debts impossible to pay.
The primary objective, he assures in a notice on his website, is to raise awareness and warn the public about the increase in this type of loan that can end in usury, which is the collection of money or profit with excessive interest on a loan.
One detail that stands out most in this campaign is that initially this type of “express loans” can be very attractive due to its ease of obtaining them. Easy, fast money and without major procedures, different from the process to obtain a conventional loan in a bank.
These “dangerous loans that are offered without guarantees or endorsement, but with high interest and that result in coercion, threat and extortion,” warns the entity in the publication.
It also warns that they are “criminal mafias” that use violence and extortion against those who cannot pay their loans.
Guatemala and “drop by drop” loans
Guatemala issued instructions on Wednesday, July 26, to strengthen its immigration controls, because El Salvador confirmed the departure of more than 200 people of Colombian nationality, linked to a structure dedicated to illegal money loans called “drop by drop.”
The Minister of the Interior, Napoleón Barrientos, affirmed that since the State of Exception began in El Salvador, in March 2022, it was requested to protect the borders to prevent the entry of gang members and now Colombian lenders.
The official assured that investigations have been underway since 2022 to address cases involving the alleged lenders of Colombian origin in Guatemala, although he did not mention an exact figure.
Meanwhile, immigration authorities reported on July 26 that in a period of three days 185 Colombians had entered the country regularly at land border posts and at La Aurora international airport.
The investigative divisions of the National Civil Police (PNC) announced on Wednesday the 26th that they have managed to establish how the structure of the “drop by drop” is made up.
Its scale begins with a “Junior” member who manages the money and the members of the structure. An “Administrator” is in charge of delivering and receiving the money, as well as managing bank accounts. In addition, a “Supervisor” must collect the money that the “collectors” receive.
Finally, in the structure are the “Collaborators” who are in charge of advertising and recommending potential clients or possible sectors of informal commerce where the credits can be placed.
In addition, according to the authorities, the points where the operations of Colombian lenders in Guatemala have been detected the most are the following departments:
- Saint Mark
- Quetzaltenango
- escuintla
- retalhuleu
- suchitepequez
- Jutiapa
- peten
- chiquimula
- Izabal
- jalapa
- Guatemala
How to report?
Due to the existence of cases in Guatemala, the authorities ask to use the different channels to denounce abuses due to the collection of legal or illegal loans.
2023-07-28 05:06:25
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