Christmas, covid, cuts to UC and end of furlough creating perfect storm for Lincolnshire loan sharks
Many have turned to targeting victims online after lockdown forced them to change their criminal ways
As we approach Christmas, it's feared the pressure to buy gifts, the pandemic, cuts to universal credit, and the end of furlough has meant more people are falling into the clutches of loan sharks in Lincolnshire.
The Illegal Money Lending Team says this winter is the perfect storm for them to strike and is warning us to be vigilant.
Kath Williams from our local branch said they'll exploit any vulnerabilities they can find.
"We've certainly got evidence that Christmas can be a trigger point for some people.
"You could almost argue there's more pressures on families this Christmas than last Christmas, because last Christmas was very, very strange.
"You could argue there's going to be even more pressure on people this year to deliver the perfect Christmas, so that is a worry for us."
She told us the pandemic had a big impact on how loan sharks acted.
"Some loan sharks got nastier during Covid, some actually gave people a break during the lockdowns.
"What we have definitely seen is an increase of loan sharks online, moving to online and social media.
"Traditionally loan sharks would operate on the school gates, at the pub, in the workplace, but with all those places being shut down, they had to find a new avenue."
Kath said rural areas, like Lincolnshire, can also be more at risk than built up cities.
"I think sometimes we have bigger problems in communities that are slightly more isolated because reaching out to the authorities can be a harder thing to do.
"Any community can be vulnerable."