National Consumer Day, IPB University Consumer Science Expert Highlights the Phenomenon of Online Lending and Gambling, Gives These Tips
The digital era brings a lot of convenience for consumers, including the ease of accessing online loans (pinjol). However, like the two sides of a coin, in addition to the convenience offered, there are many negative impacts of pinjol which of course can harm and endanger consumers.
Coinciding with the National Consumer Day which falls on 20 April, education about pinjol needs to be known by the public to increase awareness of consumer rights and needs. Dr Megawati Simanjuntak, Consumer Science Expert at IPB University, also highlighted the phenomenon of loan sharks that have ensnared many Indonesians today.
“Pinjol has become an addiction and most of the money needs are not for productive things. Although there is such a thing as peer to peer lending which specifically finances business actors, but mostly pinjol is used by consumers to meet consumptive needs,” explained Dr Mega.
Therefore, this IPB University lecturer from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences emphasised not to be tempted by the ease of pinjol, unless you can make sure it is done to meet truly urgent and productive needs, not consumptive.
If there is a truly urgent need to do pinjol, make sure the platform used is safe and legal. Dr Mega provides some tips to identify safe and legal platforms.
“First, check whether the platform is registered and licensed by the Financial Services Authority (OJK). A legal platform is characterised by being registered with the OJK and having a licence from the institution,” she explains.
Secondly, said Dr Mega, make sure the lending platform used does not access data and features on the smartphone other than these 3 features known as Camilan (Camera, Mic, Location). If the pinjol platform asks for access permission other than these 3 things, then the platform is indicated as illegal.
Apart from pinjol, online gambling is also a product of the digital era that is widely consumed by Indonesians. The reason is that the platform offers instant financial benefits that tantalise consumers. Even so, Dr Mega explicitly stated that there is no safe and legal online gambling.
“The government has cut off access to many online gambling platforms. However, these platforms often come back under different names,” she said. This, she said, causes online gambling platforms to still flourish and exist today, so it is considered a common thing to use.
Apart from causing financial losses, the lecturer at the Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, said that pinjol and online gambling also threaten the mental health of its users. Data leaks and terror often arrive. Many consumers are mentally distressed because of this terror.
“This terror activity by debt collectors is actually something that is not allowed. Consumers who experience this act of terror can protect themselves by reporting the act to the authorities, such as OJK, consumer protection agencies, investment alert units and the police,” she said.
For this reason, she emphasised the important role of the government to protect consumers, both in terms of regulation and education. “So, preventive, promotive and curative measures must be taken by the government,” she explained.
According to her, the government must also anticipate financial products that could emerge and harm the public in the future. “In my opinion, this financial technology problem will develop even more rapidly in the future. Many new products will emerge. Well, the government must be more anticipatory,” she added.
In addition, continued Dr Mega, self-awareness is also very important to protect oneself from being trapped by pinjol and online gambling. Financial literacy is important to master in this era. Knowledge related to financial planning, financial products and good financial management is needed. In addition, in this digital era, do not be easily tempted by pinjol and online gambling advertisements that appear on social media.
“If there is no real urgent need, pinjol is better not to do and not to be an option. Let’s be smart consumers and better manage and make the most of our financial resources,” she concluded. (Novita/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
