Success Story: Safeguarding a Client from Recovery Agent Harassment and Extortion

One of the most overlooked matters is the aspect of facing the gruesomeness of extortion. When extortion is mentioned, the most common form is the harassment a person faces from a recovery agent for their loan repayment.

Even though any form of harassment is definitely wrong, one of the most visible and increasing issues is the victim suffering from the harassment of debt repayment. Harassment is a form where one is brutally cornered by a blackmailer or manipulator to gain power, money, or pleasure through the act of using aggressive yet sometimes harmful means.

That’s why it’s crucial to identify when the situation is backfiring so that the victim of loan harassment can find alternative leverage to protect and guard their own safety and privacy.

Signs of Privacy Being Threatened

1. Unnecessary Messages and Calls: These are solely intended to distract and create panic for the victim in debt. It is easy to target someone who is distressed because, during that time, pressure leads to reckless decisions.

2. Personal, Unwanted Questions: Asking for information that is not required for the recovery agent to know. It is very easy for the borrower to fall into the trap of sharing too much, thinking that the agent will understand or that these are basic necessities for getting updates.

3. Unannounced Visits: Showing up unannounced at your home or workplace is strictly prohibited for the recovery agent. This is a violation of privacy and security.

4. Threatening Information: If they have any information used to threaten and blackmail you, it is a major sign of harassment. They can’t have access to data without your consent. So see if there are signs that your personal data is being shared!

5. Manipulative Tactics: Understanding their patterns of manipulating and aggressive behavior is essential to identify their tactics used to limit the victim and make them feel helpless.

Understanding the Depth of the Necessity to Protect Yourself Through a Case

This is about a woman who faced frustration and fear from the harassment she received from a recovery agent for a loan payment.

She is a gentle and supportive woman from South India, dedicated to her family despite having faced significant hardships. She had endured a tough past, with her first marriage ending in mutual divorce. Her second marriage was no better, as her new husband never supported her or her first child’s education. Additionally, her mother was dealing with severe medical issues, and she was burdened with debt from managing her household expenses, her child’s education, and her mother’s medical care.

One day, she called her lawyer at 5 PM. She was distressed, explaining that she had received calls earlier in the night threatening to expose her and her daughter through doctored pornographic videos and photographs. She was so traumatized that she didn’t even tell her case helper throughout the day that something like this had happened. The callers had already sent one of these fake videos to her relatives, causing immense distress. In desperation, she had paid the blackmailer almost all the money she had, including her savings for her mother’s medical expenses and her daughter’s future.

Despite this, the harassment and threats resumed the next day, prompting her to finally seek help from her lawyer. Recognizing the urgency, she immediately contacted a colleague to find the number of the nearest cyber police station while her advocate stayed on the call with the blackmailers, trying to buy time. After getting the number, she called the police and informed them of the situation. Meanwhile, the advocate continued to engage with the blackmailers, attempting to delay their actions and gather evidence. The recorded conversations were shared with the police, who listened. Additionally, her lawyer took screenshots and placed complaints on various portals to ensure comprehensive documentation of the harassment.

Fortunately, the police were prompt in their response, which led to identifying the app used by the blackmailers through the payment records. With the police involved, a proper and formal complaint was filed, including a report to senior authorities since her mother, a senior citizen, was also a victim. After this, she never received any further calls from the blackmailers.

Conclusion

Don’t bear it alone. It is important to share your circumstances with the rightful person who can save you from the disaster hanging by a thread. In this case, contact the cyber police (for digital harassment), your lawyer handling your case, or directly the bank. Leave no information that could potentially save you.