Loans

New Ways to Block Loan Apps from Accessing Your Contacts

Some loan apps have done a lot of damage than good as people are seeking to stop loan apps from accessing their bank account, calling and texting their contacts on Android and iOS iPhone.

Most of these loan sharks are not registered with the government, so this gives them room to just behave anyhow, because they know that nobody will check them.

Some of these loan companies go as far as calling you a name that dis-values your person as an individual as often, and I wonder if these lenders aren’t the ones that come begging you to take loans from them.

After the submission of your bio-data and credentials to these fake loan apps, your address of residence, place of work details and other financial histories are stored in their database.

These details of yours can be used later for your harassment when you cannot repay your borrowed loan.

Today in this article, you’ll learn to block, and prevent loan apps from accessing and calling your contacts in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, The Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Senegal, Dubai, Malaysia, Turkey, Tunisia, Portugal, Italy, and Romania.

How Loan Apps Access Phone Contacts

Here are the ways loan apps can access your phone contacts:

1. When you give them permission.

Loan apps can access your contacts if you give them permission to do so.

When you install a loan app, you may be asked to give the app permission to access your contacts.

If you agree, the app will see your entire contact list and store it on its servers.

A loan app might want to access your contacts to verify your identity, to market their services to your contacts, or to collect debts if you default on your loan.

2. Through your phone’s permissions.

Some phones allow apps to access your contacts even if you haven’t given them permission.

This is because the app can request permission to access your contacts at a later time.

3. Through security vulnerability.

If there is a security vulnerability in your phone’s operating system, a loan app could exploit this vulnerability to access your contacts without your permission.

How Loan Apps Track You

Here are the ways loan apps can track you:

1. Location

Some loan apps may track your location using your phone’s GPS to verify your identity, market their services to you, or to collect debts if you default on your loan.

2. Device ID

Every device has a unique device ID that can track it.

This ID can identify your device and track your activity on the app.

3. App Usage

Loan apps can track your app usage to see what other apps you are using to target you with ads and collect data about your interests.

4. Browser History

If you use the loan app’s browser, the app may track your browser history to target you with ads.

How to Stop Loan App Harassment

To stop loan app harassment, follow these steps:

  • Only give loan apps permission to access your contacts if you trust them.
  • Use a privacy-focused app that will not share your contacts with anyone without your permission.
  • Be careful what information you share with loan apps. Only share the information that is absolutely necessary.
  • Check your phone’s permissions to see which apps have access to your contacts. If you see an app that you don’t trust, revoke its permission to access your contacts.
  • Report any loan app that is harassing you to the app store.
  • Use a strong password for your phone.
  • Keep your phone’s software up to date.
  • Be aware of phishing scams.

How to Stop Loan App from Accessing Your Bank Account

Here are the steps to stop loan apps from accessing your bank account:

1. Revoke the app’s permission to access your bank account.

Once you have installed a loan app, you may have given it permission to access your bank account.

Revoke this permission by following these steps:

  • Go to your phone’s settings.
  • Tap on “Apps.”
  • Find the loan app that you want to revoke permission from.
  • Tap on “Permissions.”
  • Tap on “Bank.”
  • Tap on “Deny.”

If you have already taken out a loan from a loan app and you no longer want the app to have access to your bank account, contact your bank and ask them to block the app.

Your bank will block the app from accessing your account by adding the app to their list of blocked apps.

This will prevent the app from being able to make any unauthorized transactions on your account.

2. Be careful about the apps that you install on your phone.

Only install apps from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

These stores have strict security measures in place to prevent malicious apps from being uploaded.

If you download an app from an untrusted source, there is a risk that the app could contain malware that could steal your personal information, including your bank account details.

3. Be aware of phishing scams.

Phishing scams are emails or text messages that try to trick you into giving out your personal information.

If you receive an email or text message from a loan app that asks for your personal information, check the email or text message carefully before responding.

If you are unsure whether an email or text message is legitimate, contact the loan app directly to verify.

Ways to Prevent Loan Apps from Accessing Your Contacts

Online loan apps gain access to your contacts when you grant them access to read them.

These loan apps access your phone contacts at the initial stage of your application.

Here are the best ways to stop loan apps from calling and sending messages to your phone contacts:

1. Block Access

When you download an app, your first-time usage of the app may ask for certain permissions from your phone.

These permissions could be access to your contacts, messages, camera, etc.

Many people give these permissions to use the services the app is offering.

Now, for loan apps, once you’ve granted these permissions and you’ve gotten your loan, go into your phone settings and disable remove these permissions.

Only when you default, do the loan companies go to the app to retrieve your phone contacts if the permissions are still granted.

But once you turn it off and don’t open the app again, they won’t have it.

They will threaten to send messages, but believe me, they can’t.

To stop a loan app from sending messages to your contacts, don’t give them access.

Don’t agree to allow them to read your contacts.

And if they do, just follow these steps:

  • Go to your Settings on your Android or iOS device.
  • Navigate to the Apps Manager.
  • Click on Apps permission.
  • Select the loan app in question.
  • Now, deny or allow them access.

2. Use Reliable Loan Apps

Only give loan apps access to your contacts if you trust them.

Use only loan apps that are known in the industry as being reliable to avoid being blackmailed.

If you are not sure if you trust a loan app, read reviews online or ask your friends for recommendations.

7 Days Loan App Harassment

If you are being harassed by a 7 days loan app, do these:

1. Block the loan app’s number.

Block the app’s number from your phone so that they can no longer contact you.

To do this, open your phone’s dialer and enter the app’s number.

Then, tap on the “i” icon next to the number and select “Block this Caller.”

2. Report the app to the app store.

If you downloaded the app from an app store, such as the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, report the app to the app store.

This will help to prevent other people from being harassed by the app.

3. Contact the app’s customer support.

If you are still being harassed by the app after blocking the number and reporting the app, contact the app’s customer support.

Explain the situation to them and ask them to stop contacting you.

Do Loan Apps Still Call Contacts?

Loan apps used to call your contacts to collect debts.

In April 2023, Google announced it would ban loan apps from accessing your contacts.

This was done in response to complaints from users about loan apps harassing their contacts.

Now, loan apps can no longer call your contacts without your permission.

If you have given a loan app permission to access your contacts, you can revoke this permission in your phone’s settings.

Loan Apps Sending Messages to Contacts

Loan apps used to send messages to your contacts without your permission.

In April 2023, Google announced it would ban loan apps from accessing your phone contacts.

This was done in response to complaints from users about loan apps harassing their contacts.

Now, loan apps can no longer send messages to your contacts without your permission.

If you have given a loan app permission to access your contacts, revoke this permission in your phone’s settings.

Can Loan App Access My Contacts If Uninstalled?

A loan app cannot access your contacts if you uninstall it.

When you uninstall an app, it is removed from your phone’s storage.

This means that the app’s code and data are no longer available to the app.

As a result, the app cannot access your contacts or any other data that was stored on your phone.

If you gave the loan app permission to access your contacts when you installed it, the app may have stored your contacts on its servers.

If this is the case, the app could still access your contacts even after you have uninstalled it.

To prevent this, revoke the app’s permission to access your contacts before you uninstall it.

Do this by going to your phone’s settings and finding the app’s permissions.

Once you have found the app’s permissions, look for the “Contacts” permission and revoke it.

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Final Words

Once you grant permission for the first time to any loan app, all the information they need about you is stored.

If you are indebted to any of those illegal loan platforms, and you are afraid of defamatory messages to your contacts, go to settings in your phone, click on app and notifications.

Scroll down to app permission and deny them access to your contacts, SMS, photo gallery and storages on your phone.

They won’t be able to reach out to your contacts anymore or post your pictures.

They would only have your number and have only you to deal with.

Finally, ensure to only borrow only what you can pay.

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Saint Chinedu

My GOAL is to equip you with the right strategy and working information to improve your academic performance, financial situation, and health this month.

88 Comments

  1. I collected loan from okcash, and am owing them 13200 now things are rough for me I can’t pay them back.
    but then, they keep harassing me that they will report me to the credit bureau .
    I turned off my location because numerous numbers were calling me although it worked but they are send me messages too much.

  2. does palmcredit and new credit have access to ones contacts still after revoking the permissions?
    and what happens after you revoke the permissions but still open the app?

  3. I am also in this situation, I have always been a good lender I pay at d right time But this time around someone texted me and defrauded me claiming to be one of their agents now I am in a huge debt in have uninstalled my whatsapp, I denied d app access to my contact location and all buh d remained app I don’t open it on my phone so Dey can contact d contact there for all Dey care but I am still worried I already deleted my parents contact, I hope I am safe from them for now till I am able to gather d money back and pay Dem I am regretting ever going to those apps ????????????

  4. am owing different apps but I told them I will pay but they keep calling my contacts and disgracing me.what can I do pls

  5. Your own better I’m shy to meet or chat with my contacts ??? loan app disgrace me alot I no fit cry but laughing

    1. So have you paid it now and do they really post someone’s picture on social media because I thought they have banned them from doing so

  6. same issue with me! I have paid them but they are still debiting me, and when ever I call the customer service they don’t pick my calls! what bafus me till today is that I gave them one of my account number but they sent the money to another of my bank account, I’m still confused on how they know my other bank and I didn’t give them the details to it. is xcrosscash loan app that did this to me.

  7. I am also going through same thing since 3 days ago now I always borrow and pay them back on time but this I have personal issue and I’m going through some things now they have been threatening me and they even call my sister saying they will post me on Facebook disturbing me with calls and messages please help me out what should I do

  8. Hi ,I collected some loans from some apps tho,we agreed on a date but things didn’t go as planned,now they are threatening and telling me they are going to access my contacts,pls what should I do?

      1. Hello please what were you able to do? I experience the same issue, took a loan from just one app and almost 8 apps are crediting me. I used the money sent to pay back the loans but they keep crediting me loans I never requested for

  9. Everybody should to facebook and report this non registered loan apps. To central bank of nigeria on facebook. Telling that are defrauding people

  10. This what I do immediately they started treating me I uninstall the app and install it on the phone I don’t have any contact on but I still don’t know if the have access to my contacts my I did that may God help us

  11. I am a victim also they borrow me 15000 and they said I will pay back 24600 within 7 day and now I am out of cash and I don’t know what to do any advice please.

    1. loan apps have access to all my contacts, they have sent defamatory messages to my in-laws and my contacts, I feel so depressed right now but I told them I will pay them back but they wouldn’t listen to to me, they kept on defaming me to my contacts, what can I do to stop them because even when I stopped given them permission to my contacts but they still have access to them. I don’t know what else to do.

      1. The same thing I am facing now, please i am just looking for a way to stop them from calling me as for my contact I have told everyone that any unknown number that call’s them say I collected a they should no that they are scammers, I pray God all might helps me through this situation AMEN ???

  12. I have not defaulted yet in paying my loans I think it’s like 1 day or 2 days, some 5 days to be due.

    and from the way things are going I can’t meet up.. I have already denied them all permissions.. please from your write up you said this(Only when you default, the loan companies go to the app to retrieve your phone contacts if the permissions are still granted.) only when you default.. av not defaulted at all…and hope they won’t still get to my contacts?

  13. Pls o I am also a victim tho this pples interest are killing but I still always repay
    Now I borrowed but I can’t pay back cos business ain’t going fine everybody are owing me and I’m pleading with them till next month ending but are all saying they will call my contact lists
    Pls I have deleted all my contacts already and I have deleted dia app I have also denied them of all access pls can Dey still have my contact list except my guarantors?
    And I’m planning to change my SIM card bcos of them pls I want to know if after all this I’ll be safe from them
    Den when I have money I’ll download dis app and pay dem

    1. am facing the same situation with you guys,I have denied all there access to my phone
      can the still provide my bvn for black list

  14. please I applied a loan on one app called mascedi but they didn’t give me money but now that the rest of the app under them started calling my contacts and up and down. So please how do I block them?

  15. please I have uninstalled and denied all the permissions granted for the loan apps,they are embarrassing me anyhow continuously and trying to impersonate me, sending me threatening and insultive messages,they are going against customer’s privacy and that’s violation

  16. my name is Arike ogunleye I too loan from several loans app and my bank account was hark and the hark too all my money. I tried to explain but they didn’t believe me and they still treating to upload my picture and my details they’re calling my contacts already. please help me stop them.

    1. the samething apply to me ooooo for me they didn’t give but my account have been hacked down so every blessed day they are calling and contacting my contacts up and down that am owning them

    1. for me my account have been harked and I don’t know who is even using but they still keep on calling my contacts that am owning them how do I stopped those app. Please help me

  17. Please I need advise
    I applied for loan and it’s over due
    They are already threatening me and calling my contacts
    Can they come to my house
    What should I do

  18. My loan was due today.. intending to pay.. little do I know they already send a notice to my contacts saying am hiv positive. With that anger I kept bk my money.

  19. I delete my contact before app install but during using the app they can acess my call log? please answer me.I don’t save contact but I want to know they can access my call log.

    1. Please I have loan from them with someone Bvn but I use my contacts my contacts will not see my phone number but I use my face to loan from them will they still send my pictures to them j?

  20. after denying them permission they have at least 10 of your contacts which is stored on your system automatically and also your guarantors. that’s already have

    1. after denying them permission they have at least 10 of your contacts which is stored on their system automatically and also your guarantors. that’s already they have

  21. Go and block that your ATM card that you bind with them, report it lost, when you are about to leave the bank, insert the card and the machine will swallow it up and the machine will write lost and collect another ATM card then your money is safe

    1. If they block or blacklist my bvn what should I do or even block my account because they are saying that too

      1. they can’t block Ur acct …it’s all threats….they v no access to do dat….they are also hiding ….cos they are running illegal business….it’s Ur contacts u should protect….the best thing to do when u want to collect loan from them is to use a phone dat doesn’t v Ur contacts….with dat if they like they should threaten from now till Jesus come….u r safe….it’s wrong pple they will be sending messages to

    1. once a loan app sends messages or call ur. contacts….there is no need to pay again….they v done their worse….They can’t do more than dat….Save ur. money ….no need paying them again….last yr sokoloan did dis to me….and I went away with their 65k….fair deal

    2. Have been collecting loans from this apps and nothing is happening, all what you have to do is that. Immediately you receive the money in your account just deny the loan app all access to your information and leave the app for up to 3days then u can uninstall it if you like… That’s all then enjoy your money lobatan

    1. How to stop those loan apps from accessing your pictures and contacts :
      Go to settings
      Permission setting
      Contacts
      Pictures
      Phone
      Calendar and so on,
      Deny all of them.

  22. i don’t know how this might sound but. they were the ones calling me to borrow from them. i have always paid. i have never defaulted but the way things just turn out this time around…omo threats everywhere i no fit sleep. And i have lots of contacts cos of my business. ?????
    i don’t know what to do

    1. Delete the app from your phone. Or go to settings. Click on permission manager and disable access to everything. They will not have any other info apart from your guarantors. They will keep threatening you with messages and call but trust me, they have no contact to blackmail you to. Block them and don’t ever deal with them. They will wreck your life. They are monkey businessmen

      1. Pls I’ve click on apps and permission and deny them but they are still calling all my contacts
        Pls what else can i do

        1. Allow them to call, after sometime they will stop calling them and they will come begging you to schedule payment plan with them.
          That’s what dey did to me and I told I will not pay because they cannot defame me and asking me to pay them back so we should meet in police station since they tag me as wanted, so gathered and relax for them.

          1. I am one of a victim
            They are just threatening me that they will post me as wanted

          2. Yes, but some contacts are annoying, they will call and be complaining of you using their names

      2. Good evening,all these loan are frustrating,deframing,threating me with all such of names.i told them to hold on with me.i think i will go with your advice

      3. Good morning, I have deleted the apps, but one of those apps sent my pictures to my contact..the rest are threatening me, what can I do. I do pay back but this time things re difficult for me.

      1. Am tired they are threating me just to pay their loans am on debit what should I do have block my Facebook also my whatapp
        Now they are all treating me
        They promise to disgrace me I can’t even function well
        Should I remove my sim

        1. What loan app is that please?
          And how many days grace did they give you before they started threatening you?

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