SHOPPERS are warned not to get bitten by loan sharks over the festive season.
Lancashire County Council Trading Standards is warning people with problems not to turn to loan sharks to pay for shopping. Its Illegal Money Lending Team issued the message as families face increased pressure in the run up to Christmas.
Around 165,000 households in the UK are affected by illegal money lending and repay approximately £120million a year.
County Coun Marcus Johnstone said: “Anyone who can’t access high-street loans could be tempted by illegal loan sharks offering ‘easy money’.
“But this ‘quick and easy’ source of cash could lead to a very long and expensive series of repayments.
The best way to protect yourself from is to seek out lenders who have a consumer credit licence as this shows that they are legitimate.”
Chief Trading Standards officer Jim Potts said loan sharks tended to operate as part of a wider criminal activity, including gun crime and drug dealing.
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