Fake Anti-Virus App Fools Google Play Customers, But At Least They’ll Get Refunds
The Virus Shield app was an offering in the Google Play store that eventually reached the number one sales rank, but unfortunately, customers who purchased it were unwittingly falling victim to the lure of a fake anti-virus app.
Over 10,000 people downloaded the fake anti-virus app and there’s no telling how many more might have followed suit if it weren’t for the detective efforts of a news site called Android Police. Once curious people from that website felt compelled enough to examine the relevant code, it was determined the app may have been given a fierce sounding name, but it really didn’t do anything to prevent a person’s computer from getting a virus.
Like many products that end up being fraudulent in nature, this one looked very realistic. For example, the icon for the fake anti-virus app apparently changed appearance to give people the impression their computers were sufficiently protected.
The fake anti-virus app showed an icon of a shield with a red X in the center to let users know the app was not turned on. If a person opted to do what he or she thought was necessary to activate it, the graphic switched to a much more reassuring red checkmark. The trouble is, the fake anti-virus app was never working, despite what the icon tried to lead people to believe.
Although the fake anti-virus app was first available to purchase on the Google Play store on March 28, it was taken down shortly thereafter, on April 6. In an effort to do damage control to calm people who had purchased the product, Google began sending out e-mails to all purchasers.
The e-mailed messaged noted how the fake anti-virus app claimed to provide protection with just one click, but did not live up to that promise. It also explained how such fraudulent claims are strictly prohibited in regards to any company that wants to sell on Google’s app store. According to information published by DailyTech, scammer has been identified as a 17-year-old boy from Texas, unless that’s just a front for a much more elaborate operation
Purchasers will get a $3.99 refund because of the identified issue, and were promised to see the funds returned to bank accounts or credit cards within a two-week period of receiving the notification from Google. In addition, those customers have been offered a $5 promotional credit that’s good for another Google Play purchase. Here’s hoping anyone who uses it doesn’t come across another useless offering like the fake anti-virus scam.
