Google Alert: Google has banned 150 apps and removed them from its PlayStore. These 150 dangerous SMS scam app on the Play Store were part of a major fraud called UltimaSMS, reported Hindustan Times. This scam involved cheating people of huge amounts by trapping them in the premium SMS service without their knowledge. Such fake apps were downloaded more than 10.5 million times.
What is this UltimaSMS Scam?
The fraudsters cleverly implicated people in a premium SMS scam called 'Ultima SMS' (UltimaSMS). It started in May 2021. The thugs had implicated people by installing keyboards, QR code scanners, video and image editors, spam call blockers, camera filters, and some game apps. Such fake apps were downloaded in large numbers by people in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, USA, Poland, and many countries in the Middle East.
This is how people were deceived
These fake apps first took information about phone numbers and emails from the users on the pretext of using features. Users were then forced to pay for premium SMS service based on their location and mobile carrier. The amount was more than Rs. 3,000 a month.
Protect yourself from dangerous SMS apps in this way
- Disable the premium SMS option from your carrier.
- Make sure to read the reviews before downloading any such app. Reading as many reviews as you can find, can help you find out the intent of the app.
- Don't register your mobile number in the app until and unless you trust the app.
- Read every notification that comes up while installing the app carefully and give any permission only after reading.