TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Financial Services Authority (OJK) assessed that the trend of illegal online lending is rising ahead of Eid al-Fitr. This was stated by OJK Chief Executive of the Behavioral Supervisory of Financial Services Business, Education, and Consumer Protection, Friderica Widyasari Dewi.

“Eid is coming. [Many people] get online loans for consumption purposes. Moreover, people are very consumptive. Dangers that will trap them when Eid is over and they return to daily lives are having to pay debts with growing interests,” said Friderica in an OJK event on Tuesday, March 14.

She stated that legal lending is helpful to facilitate emergency needs but it can be harmful if it is used for consumptive purposes.

“[Getting loans for] consumption is dangerous, such as for the lifedata-style of young people. And it's not only housewives who take loans but also many young people. They are FOMO (fear of missing out); buying new gadgets, unnecessary goods,” she said.

Based on some research, Friderica said, some people who get loans have already been in debt so they pay their previous loans with new loans. “They think that they will not be recognized because they borrow money [from online loan providers]. Well, that’s wrong. These people (online lenders) will actually collect debts in an excessive way,” Friderica explained.

Therefore, OJK will be more proactive in handling many illegal loans that continuously emerge and cause a rising number of victims. “Indeed, we have to make comprehensive efforts. We must keep providing education and developing literacy, carrying out monitoring, and taking strict action against those actors of illegal financial services,” Friderica said.

HANIFAH DWIJAYANTI

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