How do I report an illegal lending app to Google Play or the App Store?
Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Report the app on two fronts: (1) to the SEC — the regulator that can actually shut the lender down — through the iMessage portal (imessage.sec.gov.ph) or hotline 1-4SEC (1-4732); and (2) to the app store, using the 'Flag as inappropriate' / report option on the Google Play or Apple App Store listing, citing that it is an unregistered lender that scrapes contacts or harasses borrowers. Google Play's Personal Loans policy already bans apps that access contacts or photos and requires a valid license, so a policy report plus your SEC complaint gives regulators and the platform parallel grounds to remove it.
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Frequently asked
Will the app store remove it on my report alone?
Not always instantly, but store reports matter. Google Play's Personal Loans policy prohibits apps that access contacts/photos and requires proof of a lending license; a report citing these violations, combined with an SEC advisory naming the app, is strong grounds for takedown.
Which report actually stops the lender?
The SEC complaint — the SEC can revoke the Certificate of Authority and issue a cease-and-desist order. The app-store report removes distribution; the SEC report removes the legal ability to operate. Do both.
What evidence should I attach?
Screenshots of the app listing, the permission requests (contacts/photos access), harassing messages, and your loan records. For contact scraping, also file with the National Privacy Commission under RA 10173 — see /answer/can-a-lending-app-access-my-phone-contacts.
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