Tamil Nadu cyber crime police pursued the matter with Google LLC and obtained the e-mail ID that was used to create the cellular app and in addition received the app suspended in November final yr. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The Tamil Nadu cyber crime police has knowledgeable Madras High Court of Google LLC having refused to share crucial details which might assist in monitoring down the creators of ‘Wonder Loan’ cellular app that was made obtainable on Google Play Store and used to fleece cash from the customers by threatening to share their non-public moments on social media.
In a standing report filed earlier than Justice C.V. Karthikeyan, the police acknowledged to have despatched a requisition to Google on November 21, 2022 looking for details such because the consumer identify of the e-mail ID that had been used to host the cellular app on Play Store, his/her cell phone quantity, alternate e-mail ID in addition to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the consumer.
However, on January 26, 2023, Google LLC replied, by e-mail, stating, “We are not able to provide you with information on the requirements for your jurisdiction. You may wish to consult the Irish Department of Justice to determine the appropriate processes for obtaining data,” the police informed the court docket.
The submission was made through the listening to of a writ petition filed by Thainadu Finance Private Limited based mostly in Dindigul district. The petitioner, a non-banking finance company (NBFC), primarily concerned in mortgage and car loans had complained of unknown individuals have misused its deal with and different details to create the ‘Wonder Loan’ cellular app.
Petitioner’s counsel Kanimozhi Mathi informed the court docket that the NBFC, registered with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), doesn’t provide digital loans in any respect. It got here to know of misuse of its credentials solely on receiving mails from numerous individuals throughout the nation accusing it of charging exorbitant curiosity for the loans supplied by the cellular app.
Immediately, the corporate lodged complaints with RBI in addition to the cyber crime police. RBI counsel Chevanan Mohan reported to the court docket that the complaints obtained by it from the petitioner firm in addition to particular person customers of the cellular app had been forwarded to the cyber crime police from the regional workplace of the central financial institution.
On their half, the cyber crime police informed the court docket that it had despatched a requisition to Google LLC on August 4, 2022 to take down the ‘Wonder Loan’ app from its Play Store. The mail was acknowledged on the identical day however on August 20, 2022, Google replied that “the reported content was not found to violate Google Play policies at this time”.
Subsequently, it was learnt that the Andhra Pradesh police too had registered an abetment to suicide case towards ‘Wonder Loan’ app on October 13. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu cyber crime police pursued the matter with Google LLC and obtained the e-mail ID that was used to create the cellular app and in addition received the app suspended in November final yr.
Since additional requests to share details resembling IP addresses had not been responded favourably by Google, the police sought some extra time to pursue the matter and guaranteed the court docket of securing the culprits as early as doable. After taking the standing report on file, the choose granted six extra weeks for finishing the investigation.