Fake Call History Apps Stole Payments From Users After 7.3 Million Play Store Downloads

Researchers discovered 28 fraudulent apps called CallPhantom on Google Play Store that deceived users into paying for fake call history data across 7.3 million downloads.

• •Apps falsely promised access to call histories, SMS records, and WhatsApp call logs for any phone number, but delivered only randomly generated fake data
• •Primary targets were Android users in India and broader Asia-Pacific region, with one app exceeding 3 million downloads
• •Payment methods included Google Play Store billing, UPI-based apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), and direct card forms, with the latter two violating Google's policies
• •Apps used deceptive tactics such as fake notifications claiming data was sent to prompt users toward payment

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