UNLICENSED money lending /
loan sharking harassment

CITIZENS ON PATROL COMMUNITY SG

CRIME PREVENTION ADVISORY VIDEOS

Watch how Singapore Police officers from the Unlicensed Moneylending Strike Force of the Criminal Investigation Department work tirelessly to cripple unlicensed money lending/ loan sharking activities in Singapore.

Do watch till the end for the crime prevention advisories.

2017: Crimewatch Episode 5 Part 2
Credit: SPF

2015: Crime Watch Episode 2 Part 2
Credit: SPF

2014: Crimewatch Episode 2 Part 2
Credit: SPF

2011: Crimewatch Episode 9 Part 2
Credit: SPF
A video on how some youths are at risk getting involved in loan sharking activities
and how we can assist them to avoid being a victim of such crimes

2012: Crimewatch Episode 5 Part 1
Credit: SPF

UNLICENSED MONEY LENDING
CRIME PREVENTION ADVISORY VIDEOS
CREDIT: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

unlicensed money lending / loan sharking

Unlicensed money lending or loan sharking is when an unlicensed person or an entity:
- Offers loans at extremely high interest rates (well above an established legal rate), with strict terms of collection upon failure,
- Uses threats of violence to collect debts (also known as illegal money lending harassment), and
- Operates out of the legal system that are often members of organised crime groups.

HOW TO spot a suspected harassment

When you observe suspicious characters:

« Loitering at lift lobbies, common corridors, staircases or carparks; particularly during lull hours,

« Carrying plastic bags/ backpacks with items like can spray paints, paint packs, markers, super glue or chains,

« Wearing clothes or hands stained with paint,

« Wearing jackets with hoodies or helmets to mask their identities,

« Constantly referring to hand phone, slips of paper or notebooks, and

« Looking nervous, speaking softly and always looking around.

If you witness or are a victim of such crimes, call the Police for assistance. Do so from a safe distance and/ or location.

Stay calm and observe the suspect's appearance, attire, height, or any distinctive physical features; as well as the suspect's location or the direction they went.

leave evidences for police investigation

If you witnessed a suspected unlicensed money lending/ loan shark harassment that had taken place:

« Call for police assistance immediately.

« Prevent others from tampering with the items (e.g. debtor note)

« Avoid handling or removing the debtor notes from their original positions.

« Do not clear away the disposed items left behind by the runners.

HOW TO AVOID unlicensed money lending/ loan sharks

« Never borrow from illegal / unlicensed money lenders or loan sharks.

« Find and verify legitimate and licensed money lenders from the Ministry of Law's List of Licensed Money Lenders in Singapore HERE.

« If you receive any loan offers from unsolicited SMSes; ALWAYS ignore, report and block such messages.

« If you come across any loan offer advertisements on any social media platforms or websites, ALWAYS ignore them. These are illegal money lenders.

« If you receive any unsolicited phone calls from unknown numbers/ parties offering you loans, immediately hang up the call.

« Ignore loan offer advertisement brochures / posters illegally posted up in your neighbour hood/ estate. Help take them down and discard them in the bins to protect members of the public from falling prey to such borrowings.

« Never give out:
- Your NRIC-, passport- or work permit- details to anyone,
- Your bank account or Singpass details,
- Your residential address details,
- Your next of kin details, and
- Never accept any money from strangers regardless the amount.