Ease Credit: Can I still pay them if they defame me?

NO. ONCE DEFAMATION OCCURS, THE CONTRACT IS VOID.

If this entity has contacted your friends, family, employer, or posted your information publicly, they have committed:

• Criminal defamation
• Violation of privacy laws
• Breach of data protection regulations (NDPR in Nigeria, similar laws elsewhere)
• Harassment and intimidation tactics that invalidate any moral or legal claim to repayment

What defamation looks like:

• Calling your workplace to discuss your loan
• Messaging your contacts to shame you
• Threatening to expose your information
• Posting your details online
• Sending threatening messages to your references

Your instructions:

1. DO NOT PAY THEM A SINGLE NAIRA/DOLLAR/CURRENCY
2. DO NOT ENGAGE IN FURTHER COMMUNICATION
3. COLLECT EVIDENCE: Screenshot all messages, save call logs, record defamatory posts
4. REPORT TO AUTHORITIES:

• Financial regulator (CBN, FCCPC, NDIC depending on jurisdiction)
• Police cybercrime unit
• Data protection commission

Paying after defamation rewards criminal behavior and signals that their tactics work, encouraging them to continue victimizing others.