Researchers at Avast highlight fake apps on Google Play Store
While there may be various scam emails and links that may pop up on the screen that has to be avoided at all costs, there has recently been a new collection of fake apps on the Google Play Store for Android devices, as reported by BGR.
Avast, a cybersecurity company, has been reporting on scams such as a campaign called UltimaSMS. The company claims that 151 apps were a part of the SMS campaign, disguised as legitimate photo editing tools, QR code scanners, camera filters and games. Ultimately these campaigns compel users to sign up for expensive SMS services.
Such fake apps scan for user location, IMEI and number to detect the country area code and language to be used for the scam. Once such apps are downloaded and opened, they ask users to enter phone number or email address in their own language. Once the information has been submitted, the user is automatically signed for an expensive SMS service, and the app screen will either show subscription options or would stop working.
As much as we can try to avoid scams such as these, some are too clever and will catch us unawares. Avast explained why users fall for these scams, “The apps discovered are essentially identical in structure, meaning the same base app structure is repurposed numerous times. These copies are disguised as genuine apps through well constructed app profiles on the Play Store. The profiles feature catchy photos and enticing app descriptions alongside often high review averages. However, upon closer inspection, they have generic privacy policy statements and feature basic developer profiles including generic email addresses. They also tend to have numerous negative reviews from users that correctly identified the apps as scams or have fallen for the scam.”
Moreover, most of the dangerous fake apps are being advertised on social media like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, attracting users with bright flashy ads. Android devices have already downloaded the fake apps more than 10.5 million times, but Google has taken a step to ban the applications part of the SMS campaign since then. Here’s a list of fake apps that you should watch out for and delete if you already have them on your phone:
Ultima Keyboard 3D Pro
VideoMixer Editor Pro
FX Animate Editor Pro
Battery Animation Charge 2021
Dynamic HD & 4K Wallpapers
RGB Neon HD Keyboard Background
AppLock X FREE
NewVision Camera
Ultra Camera HD
Wi-Fi Password Unlock
Wi-Fi Around: All Wi-Fi and Hotspots Unlock
Colorful Call Screen & Phone Flash
Waterdrinker Reminder
GT Sports Racing Online
Magic Fonts and Keyboard 2021
All Language Photo and Voice Translator Al
Crime City: Revenge
Reface Ultra
Projector HD/AR Video Editor
LivePhoto Animator
Ludo Masterpiece Online
Mobile Scanner Pro: PDF Scanner App, Scan to PDF
Magic Mix Cut – Super Video Editor
Future Scanner FREE 2021
Pro Video Downloader 2021
AmazeTranslate
Football Masters 2021
New Body Shape Editor
Call Voice Recording 2.0
Pro Tuber Ad Blocker for Video
Fitness Ultimate 2021
Wallpaper XYZ Pro
Read up on the full list published by Avast on their website detailing all the scam apps on GooglePlay Store here.