Servicepeople have always been targets for dodgy financial loans etc. For why? Cos they know they can go straight to the CO who will take action to recover in case of default.
You work for Tesco (or whoever) and default on a loan, the shop manager won't give a toss.
Recall one of our airmen once being so in debt that his pay only just covered his monthly repayments! And in order not to be "rankist", I know some officers who have had severe "financial overstretch" on dodgy deals too, borrowing to pay off the plastic etc etc.
Good dit in today's Torygraph by Bryony Gordon, who recalls in the past borrowing about £700 from these leeches (or similar) for a ticket to a mate's wedding in South Africa - cost her about £3K in the end!