This study investigates the influence of socio-economic and financial factors on individuals' borrowing from predatory lenders in Dar es Salaam City, using data collected from 300 respondents. Socio-economic attributes included age, gender, marital status, education, and income status. Financial factors were indicated by financial knowledge, financial inclusion, and individuals' borrowing behaviour. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the effects of socio-economic, economic, and financial factors on borrowing from predatory lenders. The findings indicate that age, gender, education, and financial knowledge negatively influence loan uptake from predatory lenders, suggesting that older individuals, males, individuals with higher levels of education, and financially literate individuals are less likely to borrow from predatory lenders. Income and marital status appear to have no significant influence. Conversely, financial inclusion, measured by bank account ownership, and specific borrowing behaviours are positively associated with the likelihood of borrowing from predatory sources. While some socio-economic attributes and financial factors appear to be consistent in their influence on individuals' borrowing from predatory lenders, the findings on financial inclusion are inconsistent with the expectations of the study. This implies that financial inclusion may inadvertently lead some individuals to borrow from predatory lenders, underscoring the need for targeted financial inclusion to enhance financial well-being. This research contributes to understanding predatory lending dynamics in emerging urban settings and emphasises the importance of enhancing financial literacy to mitigate the risks of borrowing from predatory lenders.