Beware of illegal money lenders – they want to get you under their control.

This is the message from Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service as they launch a week of action to raise awareness of illegal money lenders.

The move coincides with new research by insolvency trade body R3 which shows the number of adults in Yorkshire and the Humber likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months has doubled.

In June 2013, this figure stood at 3 per cent but it has now risen to 6 per cent.

The campaign “Say No to Loan Sharks” kicked off on Saturday at the Huddersfield Town game and continued in the town centre yesterday.

Carli Hay, community engagement officer at West Yorkshire Joint Services, said the term “illegal money lender” does not refer to the high-cost lenders who often advertise on TV, although these kind of money lenders can sometimes cause problems as well.

She said: “Illegal money lenders, known as loan sharks, are criminals who lend money without the authority to do so.

“When it comes to reclaiming their money, they may resort to intimidating and sometimes violent methods.

“Loan sharks are not your friends – they want you under their control.”

The campaign team was outside the Four Cousins cafe in Huddersfield town centre yesterday to talk to residents and hand out literature.

Stop loan sharks initiative, New Street, Huddersfield - Clr Judith Hughes, chmn Huddersfield Area Committee, pictured with Moor End Academy students and logo designers Faral Faysal (15, left) and Haroon Hamid (14, right) and Sharky and Glenda.
Stop loan sharks initiative, New Street, Huddersfield - Clr Judith Hughes, chmn Huddersfield Area Committee, pictured with Moor End Academy students and logo designers Faral Faysal (15, left) and Haroon Hamid (14, right) and Sharky and Glenda.

The team will be in Dewsbury town centre tomorrow, Cleckheaton town centre on Thursday and Batley town centre on Friday.

The campaign’s mascot, Sharky, will also appear at Batley Sports and Tennis Centre today to offer locker coins to gym goers in a bid to get them to support the new initiative.

Staff from West Yorkshire Trading Standards are also providing information sessions on the topic of illegal lending to community groups and schools across the region.

The team urge you to contact them in confidence if you or anyone you know has been affected by a loan shark, or if you have any information about illegal lending activities.

If you are worried or need help, you can call the 24-hour confidential hotline on 0300 555 2222 or text “loan shark + your message” to 60003. Or email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or visit www.facebook.com/stoploansharks project where you can check if a person or company is legally allowed to lend money.