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Google advised Android users to delete and avoid 151 scam mobile apps
Multinational tech company Google just banned over 151 dangerous mobile phone applications from its Play Store over ties to an SMS scam campaign.
Cybersecurity service Avast Antivirus identified the widespread SMS campaign operating through various apps on the Google Play Store earlier in October.
Now, these phone companies are warning Android users to be vigilant against these fake apps.
Google has confirmed Avast’s findings and removed all 151 malicious apps from the Play Store. Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters via Business Insider.
The UltimaSMS scam
151 fake apps disguised as photo and video editors, spam call blockers, camera filters, QR code scanners, and all sorts of games, have been identified to be scams.
The apps have been downloaded more than 10 million times in more than 80 countries, according to Avast.
Once the victim installed one of the apps onto their phone, it records the user’s location, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, and phone number. Then, it creates a series of prompts requesting the user to enter their phone and email address.
The gathered information is used to subscribe the user to premium SMS servers that charge up to $50 AUD per month.
Then, some of the apps would malfunction, making it difficult for the user to cancel the subscriptions. Others found that even if the apps were deleted and uninstalled, the SMS charges continued.
Here is the list of Android scam apps identified by Avast:
- AIM PRO Helper and Custom Crosshair
- All HD Video SX - Smart Player
- All Language Photo and Voice Translator AI
- All Translator: Photo, Voice & Text
- AmazeTranslate
- Amazing Arab Videos
- Amore Live Random Chat
- Ano caller: Spam List & Caller ID
- AppLock X FREE
- AppLocker X Pro 2021
- AR Qibla Easy Finder Pro
- AR Video PRO Downloader
- Arabic Keyboard
- Battery Animation Charge 2021
- Battery Charging Effects: From 0 to 100%
- Call Voice Recording 2.0
- Calls ID Unlocker
- Camera Translator
- Cartoon Photo Editor Pro
- Chat Keyboard Translator PRO
- Chat Translator for WhatsApp
- Chat Translator Pro for WhatsApp
- Clap and Find
- Cold Fan Free 2021
- Colorful Call Screen & Phone Flash
- CosmosVPN
- Couch Watcher - Guide of Streaming
- Crime City: Revenge
- DiskRecover: Photo & Files Recovery
- Downloader ALL Social file
- Dynamic HD & 4K Wallpapers
- Earth Scanner
- Easy Chat Translator for WhatsApp
- Easy Chat Translator: All Language
- Easy Hidden Apps Detector
- Easy iOS Launcher 2021
- Easy Photo Recovery 2021
- Easy Smart Translator Pro
- Easy Wifi Access & Fast Vpn
- EasyCode: QR and Barcode Scanner
- Egyptian Gods
- Fast Dates Chat
- Fingerprint Hider 2021
- Fitness Ultimate 2021
- Football Masters 2021
- ForMuslims
- Free Launcher X Pro
- Free Secret Downloader
- Future AI Scan Free 2021
- Future Scanner FREE 2021
- FX Animate Editor Pro
- Game Center: Complete Edition
- GT Sports Racing Online
- Hacker Simulator App
- HDlife Camera and Video
- Hidden Section: Secret Lock
- ICall U - Online Video Hotchat
- iDownloader: Social Network Media
- inpulse - DJ Mix App
- iOS Launcher X 2021
- LED BorderLikes & Followers for Tik-Tok
- Live Cam Pro 2021: Earth cam & Live Street View
- LivePhoto Animator
- Loopy Live: Global Streaming Video Chat
- Luck Casino
- Ludo Masterpiece Online
- Ludo Masters 2021
- Magic Fonts and Keyboard 2021
- Magic Keyboards and Fonts
- Magic Mix Cut - Super Video Editor
- Magic Pop It: AR & 3D Relax
- Make Wallpaper and Widget
- Mawlid An-Nabi
- Mawlid An-Nabi
- Meme Voice Changer PRO
- MiaWall4K
- Mobile Scanner Pro: PDF Scanner App, Scan to PDF
- Muslim Memoji & Stickers for Whatsapp
- Muslim Stickers and Memoji for WhatsApp
- My Mia 4K Wallpapers
- My Photo Battery Charging 2021
- My Rolling Icons
- New Body Shape Editor
- NewVision Camera
- NOWDownloader and Private Apps
- Parallels - Multi Accounts
- Phone Finder
- Photellon
- Photo & Voice Translator
- Photo Animation PRO
- PhotoLab Pro +
- Photoshop Detector
- Pixelize Art
- Pixler: Face Retouch & Effects
- Pro Calls Recorder
- Pro Tuber Ad Blocker for Video
- Pro Video Downloader 2021
- Professional Hidden Device Detector
- Projector HD/AR Video Editor
- Projector video HD Editor
- Pulse Rate Checker
- Pure Tube PRO: Block Video Ads
- Qibla Finder: Qibla Compass & Prayer Times 2021
- Rainbowed: Gay Random chat & Live stream
- Rec Old File
- Recovery Old Photo
- Reface Ultra
- RGB Neon HD Keyboard Background
- Roll Your Icons
- Rubic’s Cube: Real Time Solver
- SecVPN: Fast and Secure VPN
- Smart City Taxi
- Smart Global Translator
- Soltpapers: 4K Custom Wallpapers
- Spam Calls Buster
- StarMaker PRO
- Stay Fit: Home Fitness Plan
- Stickers Maker ART
- Stickers Up!
- Teammate Finder
- ToEdit: Body and Face Retouch
- Truck Driver Simulation
- TrueCaller ID: Caller ID, Spam Block and Chat (Note: This is not the legit Truecaller from True Software Scandinavia AB.)
- Ultima Keyboard 3D Pro
- Ultra Camera HD
- Ultra Live Wallpapers 4Κ and Ringtones
- Video Downloader Master
- Video Saver & Private Browser
- VideoMixer Editor Pro
- VidMixer Pro
- VPN Fastest Edition
- VPN Toaster: Easy Network Access
- Wallpaper Anime for Android
- Wallpaper XYZ ProWally4K
- Waterdrinker Reminder
- Whistle Phone Finder
- WhoCall Caller ID and Spam Blocker
- Whos Called: Multi-SIM Caller ID and SpamBlock
- Wi - Fi Holder
- Wi-Fi Around: All Wi-Fi and Hotspots Unlock
- Wi-Fi Opensignal
- Wi-Fi Password Unlock
- Wi-Fi Secret Master
- Wi-Fi Security and VPN
- WI-FI Unlock Password
- WI-FI UnlockerPRO
- WOX - Antivirus & Cleaner, Applock, Booster
- XCall
- XN Wallpapers: 4K/3D/Parallax, Auto Changer
Then, reach out to your mobile service provider and disable any premium SMS options on your account.
