Stop Loan Sharks
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (Stop Loan Sharks) investigates and prosecutes loan sharks and provides crucial, tailored support to borrowers. Since 2004, it has supported tens of thousands of people and prosecuted hundreds of loan sharks, with many jailed for their offences. The team is hosted by Birmingham City Council, but works across England. If you think you or someone you know has been targeted by a loan shark, you can contact Stop Loan Sharks in confidence:
- Call 0300 555 2222 (24/7 confidential helpline)
- Email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
- Send a WhatsApp message to 07700 102773 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm)
Visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk – the website has a reporting form and a Live Chat facility
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) have launched a new smartphone app to make it quicker and easier for people to report loan sharks and access support services.
It also offers users advice on the tell-tale signs that someone is a loan shark. These include offering cash loans without any paperwork, charging extortionate interest, use of benefits or bank cards as security, and threatening behaviour or violence to get money.