New Montco group wants to protect you from getting scammed
County officials say the collaboration may be the first of its kind and is particularly important as some companies prey on those who are struggling.
Montgomery County officials are starting a new consumer protection collaboration and taking on cash-advance apps in one of its first cases.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners announced the effort Monday, saying that the solicitor’s office and district attorney’s office would work together to investigate issues that impact the finances, health, and well-being of residents.
“When companies engage in unlawful or deceptive conduct that harms our residents, we will use every available tool to hold them accountable,” Steele said in a statement.
“This is the first long-term partnership on consumer protection that we’re aware of,” Montgomery County Commissioner Neil K. Makhija said in an interview. He added that it is particularly important given continued economic uncertainty.
“People are struggling to cover everyday needs,” Makhija, a public interest attorney, said. “Some companies see that and they see an opportunity to make a profit.”
Some digital lending apps are among those companies, according to Montgomery officials.
Traditional payday lending involves taking out a short-term, high-interest loan due on a consumer’s next payday. The practice is illegal in many states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
But Montgomery County officials say some apps continue to give out similar loans, disguised as interest-free cash-advances.
On Monday, the county district attorney’s office filed two lawsuits against the apps MoneyLion and Dave, alleging that the companies provide short-term cash advances and then tack on fees, tips, and other charges so they effectively function as high-interest loans, violating Pennsylvania law.
Spokespeople for MoneyLion and Dave did not immediately return requests for comment.
More than a million Pennsylvanians have used these apps, Makhija said, and officials hope to learn through the lawsuits how many Montgomery County residents have been impacted. Suits such as these can result in financial settlements or orders to stop illegal practices, the commissioner said.
“The reason this is so powerful is that we are not bound by the fine print” that consumers often agree to when they sign up for these apps, Makhija said. “Consumers today unknowingly are waiving their rights to a jury trial … what we are able to do is take action on behalf of the Commonwealth by our district attorney.”
The county accounted for this effort in its 2026 budget for the district attorney’s office.
“These cases pay for themselves: You’re addressing harm and you’re able to recover funds to continue the work,” Makhija said. “This is not a cost sink for the county.”
» READ MORE: Montco joins thousands of others in suing social media giants over harms to teen mental health
As part of the consumer-protection collaboration, Montgomery County also sued some of the country’s largest social media companies over youth mental health impacts, and joined other local districts attorney in a suit against online ticket-reseller Vivid Seats over hidden fees.
Montgomery County residents can email consumer.complaint@montgomerycountypa.gov with tips about ongoing cases or other issues, Makhija said.
