JPDP to investigate six unlicenced moneylending apps for personal data abuse

JPDP said it has received more complaints from users regarding personal data abuse by unlicensed moneylending apps since it first published a statement to address the issue on Oct 5. — Dreamstime/TNS

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Personal Data Protection (JPDP) has opened investigation papers on six unlicensed online money lending applications for reportedly misusing users’ personal data.

In a statement, JPDP said the applications – namely Asialend, Dreamlend, iPayfren, iPinjaman, Helplend4u and GoCash4u – have been found to have accessed and copied user information, including personal data that are unrelated to the loan application, without the borrowers’ permission.

JPDP in a collaboration with CyberSecurity Malaysia and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the unlicensed moneylending applications will be investigated under Section 5 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Act 709).

If convicted, those responsible for the applications’ unlawful data use will receive a fine of no more than RM300,000 or a sentence of no more than two years imprisonment, or both.

JPDP is also urging users of any of the aforementioned applications whose personal data have been misused, to contact its enforcement unit at [e-mail] or its Personal Data Protection complaint portal to help with ongoing investigations.

The department said it has received more complaints from users regarding personal data abuse by unlicensed moneylending apps since it first published a statement to address the issue on Oct 5.

In the Oct 5 statement, JDPP said Asialend, a company highlighted by user complaints, is an unregistered moneylending company after a check with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).

Asialend has also been found to have misled users by using a different company’s corporate information, such as moneylending license and permit, in its promotional material.

JPDP also urged borrowers to check with the Community Credit Control Unit under KPKT to find out the status of licensed online money lenders. As of Nov 16, KPKT said only eight companies have been approved to provide financial loans online.