If you’ve borrowed money from a loan shark or are worried about someone else, help is available. You can report a loan shark in strict confidence by visiting Stop Loan Sharks Stop Loan Sharks This link will open in a new window.
If you’ve been threatened by a loan shark or are at risk of harm, contact the police straight away.
Loan sharks are not regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Instead, they operate outside of the law – offering cash loans with extremely high interest rates, with no paperwork or clear repayment terms.
Loan sharks tend to target those in financial difficulty. When you struggle to repay the loan, they may use threatening behaviour and pressure you into borrowing more from them to repay one debt with another.
Even if you borrow a small amount, dealing with a loan shark can quickly spiral out of control where you end up owing them a lot of money.
Spotting a loan shark is not always easy. They can seem friendly and supportive at first, to lure you into a false sense of security. They could even be a family member or friend.
Loan sharks typically:
Some loan sharks pretend to be doorstop or payday lenders – offering short-term loans for small sums of money. However, these lenders need to be authorised by the FCA.
Be cautious of anyone who approaches you and offers you a loan, especially if you haven’t known them for very long.
To be able to lend money legally in the UK, lenders need to be authorised and regulated by the FCA. This is to protect you and your money.
It’s important to always check if a lender is listed on the Financial Services register check if a lender is listed on the Financial Services register This link will open in a new window, and they are who they say they are.
Roughly 1.08 million people in the England are estimated to owe money to illegal money lenders.11 view footnote 1
Stop Loan Sharks will help you get safely away from loan sharks. You can call them call them This link will open in a new window or complete an online form to report a loan shark online form to report a loan shark This link will open in a new window in strict confidence.
Remember, it’s not illegal to borrow this money – it’s the illegal lender who’s breaking the law. You don’t need to worry about getting into trouble with the police if you report it.
Sometimes, the behaviour of a family member or friend can cause concern. Here are some of the signs to look for. They might:
If you believe someone you know may be a victim of a loan shark, it’s important to:
Stop Loan Sharks has a helpline you can call anytime for confidential advice and support, as well as a Live Chat.
For more information, visit Stop Loan Sharks: Worried about someone else Stop Loan Sharks: Worried about someone else This link will open in a new window.
If you (or someone you know) is anxious about money or feel overwhelmed with debt – there’s help available. StepChange StepChange This link will open in a new window and National Debtline National Debtline This link will open in a new window provide free advice and support to help you tackle your debt.
If you bank with us and need support, please get in touch – we’re also here to help with any money worries or financial anxiety you may have.
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