Don’t Be Fooled by These Fake Crypto Apps on the Google Play Store
Cryptocurrencies continue to gain in popularity , but as interest grows, so does the creativity of scammers seeking to capitalize on cultural shifts in order to rob people. According to a recent report from the cybersecurity group Trend Micro , there are now many fake cryptocurrency mining apps and wallets on the Google Play store that force users to pay for fake services like cloud mining and storage.
Specifically, the report mentions eight annexes:
- Bitcoin 2021
- Bitcoin Miner – Cloud Mining
- Bitcoin (BTC) – cloud wallet for pool mining
- BitFunds – cloud cryptocurrency mining
- Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining
- Daily Bitcoin Rewards – Cloud Mining System
- Ethereum (ETH) – Cloud for mining pool
- MineBit Pro – Crypto Cloud Mining and btc miner
Most of these apps hid one of two fake mining apps — either Trend Micro labeled “AndroidOS_FakeMinerPay” or “AndroidOS_FakeMinerAd”, which tricked users into paying for fake cloud mining services, usually with a monthly monthly fee of $ 15. In fact, none of the apps mined or paid out cryptocurrency to users.
Some also promoted paid ads and in-app purchases, and at least two apps – Crypto Holic and Daily Bitcoin rewards – were premium apps that users had to purchase to download.
Google removed these apps from the Google Play Store following a Trend Micro report. The excluded apps are subsequently disabled and uninstalled from all devices they are downloaded to, but it is still advisable to confirm that they are removed from your Android phone if you have downloaded any of the apps listed above.
There are even more fake cryptographic applications
Unfortunately, even after these bans (and Google’s overhaul of its own crypto policy ), Trend Micro researchers claim there are over 120 other fraudulent crypto apps still available on the Play Store right now. Some of them have been downloaded by over 100,000 users. And these apps will not be called or removed until proven to be in fact committing some form of crypto scam.
As we remind you every time one of these malware stories comes up, make sure you carefully check every piece of software you download. Stick to well-known applications and developers, and do not forget to read ratings and reviews, including reliable sites such as Google Play Store. It’s also worth doing a quick web search or even asking for a second opinion on a reliable discussion forum.
However, malicious developers will go out of their way to make their apps look legitimate. Don’t pay for any apps, services, or special features unless you’re sure they’re real. If in doubt, do not share your billing information or personal details. And if you’ve already paid for an app that claims to offer cloud mining services, but you haven’t seen any results, that means it’s most likely fake. Uninstall the app and report it right away.
[ Cointelegraph ]