What are loan sharks and how do they operate?
Unlicensed lenders - often called 'loan sharks' - operate illegal money lending businesses without a licence from the Office of Fair Trading. Here are some clues for identifying them:
- Rarely offers paperwork to keep borrowers unsure of how much they owe
- Charge extortionate rates of interest (rates of 131,000% APR have been seen)
- Add additional amounts to the debt so borrowers struggle to repay
- Take items such as passports of bank cards as security
- Employ extreme methods to reclaim their debts, including violence and intimidation
Source: England Illegal Money Lending Team
Read ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi's interview with a loan shark victim here.
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