Android equipment owners downloaded malicious loan apps from theGoogle Play Store12 million times since 2020 , harmonise to areport from ESET ResearchTuesday . The paper identify 18 deceitful apps that market themselves as offering fast and easy high - interest loan . In actuality , the apps steal victims ’ personal and financial data to blackmail substance abuser , sometimes threaten their families , and stealing their money .
ESET classify these bad actor as “ SpyLoan apps ” because they utilize spyware . Google has reportedly take away the identified SpyLoan apps from the Google manoeuvre store since ESET alerted them . Research shows SpyLoan apps have grown by 90 % in the first one-half of 2023 , largely targeting users outside of the U.S. and Europe . The fraudulent apps occasionally personate the names and branding of loan provider and financial institutions .
Google confirmed the report from ESET in an email to Gizmodo . “ We take security claims against apps seriously , and if we discover that an app has violated our policies , we take appropriate activeness , ” say a Google voice .
Photo: rafapress (Shutterstock)
After a SpyLoan app is installed , the attackers chivvy and blackmail victims into making payments , even if the exploiter did n’t apply for a loan or was n’t approved . Several exploiter left negative reviews , notice the apps often do n’t ever send out loan and hassle users to no goal . In utmost case , users say the app ’s enforcers threatened the safety of their menage .
One user shared a screenshot from one of the SpyLoan apps texting them , “ Is the debt you have deserving your peace of mind and that of your eff ones ? … Do you really desire to put your safety at risk ? … Are you uncoerced to compensate the result ? ”
SpyLoan apps often portray legitimate fintech apps , which have grow in popularity recently by offer highly accessible financial services to multitude who typically ca n’t access them . They bypass Google Play ’s app requirements by copying the app descriptions of other fintech apps .
Some of the SpyLoan apps ESET Research identified.Screenshot: ESET Research
ESET reports users from country such as Mexico , Indonesia , Thailand , Vietnam , India , Pakistan , Colombia and Peru were victims of the SpyLoan apps .
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A negative review of one of the SpyLoan apps.Screenshot: ESET Research
