Yahoo Finance $3,432 scam: Huge problem with popular apps
Australians could lose as much as $3,432 over one year by downloading insidious apps, a cybersecurity firm has warned.
Digital security firm Avast has uncovered more than 200 new fleeceware application on the Apple and Google stores, with the apps having already been downloaded one billion times.
The fleeceware apps, which have gained more than $400 million in revenue, often attract users with free three-day trials.
However, once the trial expires, the recurring subscription fee can be extremely expensive, with one app charging users a $66 weekly subscription. Under that payment plan, victims could be $3,432 poorer by the end of the year.
Often the only way to stop the fees is by cancelling the subscription in the device’s app subscription settings.
“The fleeceware applications we've discovered consist predominantly of musical instrument apps, palm readers, image editors, camera filters, fortune tellers, QR code and PDF readers, and 'slime simulators',” said Avast’s threat analyst Jakub Vávra here.
“While the applications generally fulfil their intended purpose, it is unlikely that a user would knowingly want to pay such a significant recurring fee for these applications, especially when there are cheaper or even free alternatives on the market.”
Younger audiences appear to be the target, Vávra added, with the apps often advertised on social media with the promise of ‘free downloads’.
“By the time parents notice the weekly payments, the fleeceware may have already extracted significant amounts of money.”
What apps do I need to be aware of?
These are the apps that Avast has reported to Apple and Google to review:
Google Play store:
App Name |
Piano Free - Keyboard with Magic Tiles Music Games |
edjing Mix - Free Music DJ app |
Real Guitar Free - Chords, Tabs & Simulator Games |
Fancy Slime |
FortuneScope: live palm reader and fortune teller |
Guitar - play music games, pro tabs and chords! |
Drums: real drum set music games to play and learn |
Drum Set Music Games & Drums Kit Simulator |
Drum Pads - Beat Maker Go |
Piano - Play & Learn Music |
Beat Maker Pro - music maker drum pad |
Magic Face:face aging, young camera, fantastic app |
ToonApp: AI Cartoon Photo Editor, Cartoon Yourself |
Palm Secret - Palm Reader, Cartoon Photo, Fun |
Palmistry |
Daily horoscope, palmistry, numerology - Astroline |
Insta Story Art Maker for Instagram - StoryChic |
FX Master |
Karaoke - Sing Songs! |
Relax - Daily Palmistry, future baby, palm Scanner |
Life Advisor: Baby predict, Palm Reader&Face aging |
QR & Barcode Scanner |
Palm reader - horoscope, palmistry and divinations |
Palmistry: Predict Future by Palm Reading |
Nebula: Horoscope & Astrology |
Life Palmistry - AI Palm&Gender&Prediction |
Miami Rope Hero -Light Speed Frog Black Ninja Hole |
Motorbike Games 2020 - New Bike Racing Game |
Sticky Slime - ASMR Slime Simulator |
TeasEar - ASMR Meditation & Slime Simulator Games |
Realistic ASMR Slime Simulator |
Slime Simulator - Super ASMR Game |
BeSticky - Sticker Maker for WhatsApp |
DJ it! - Music Mixer |
Jambl: Beat Maker & Dj Music Creator |
Loop Maker Pro - Music Maker |
Piano - music games to play & learn songs for free |
Guitar Tuner Pro - Tune your Guitar, Bass, Ukulele |
Guitar Play - Games & Songs |
Famio: Connect With Family |
AiScan: All QR Code, Scanner & Barcode Reader |
PDF Document Scanner |
Photo Editor Pro - Kooky |
Palmistry — a Quick Chinese Palm Reading Guide |
SeekMe - Palm Scan Cartoon Camera Baby Prediction |
My Palmistry & Astrology: Face Aging & Palm Reader |
Jelly: Slimes & ASMR, antistress simulation games |
Sticky Slime - Fancy Slime Simulator ASMR |
Horoscope 2019 and Palmistry - Everyday Prediction |
Slimes satisfy asmr. Make diy. Slime maker |
Plant Lens - Plant & Flower Identification |
Light Presets |
FortuneScan - Predict Future by Palm Reading |
Eon - Astrology and Daily Horoscope |
Fortunescan - Palmistry, Palm Reader & Horoscope |
Stellium Daily Horoscope |
PalmistryHD - Palm Reading & Daily Horoscope |
Palm Expert - Palmistry, Horoscope & Tarot Reading |
Soular |
Astrology & Palm Master |
Facetory: Face Yoga & Facial Exercises |
Blossom - Plant Identification app |
Music Zen - Relaxing Sounds |
PDF Document Reader |
🍑DayStress Relief: Relaxation & Antistress app |
Tarot Numerology: card reading |
Astrospot: horoscope matches, daily predictions |
Perfect Slime Simulator - ASMR & Satisfying game |
Face Scan: Horoscope & Astrology |
Apple App store:
App Name |
Filterra - Photo Editor |
Frames - Picture Collage Maker |
Facelab - Face Editor & Beauty |
TeasEar: ASMR Slime Antistress |
StoryChic - IG Story Templates |
Photo Splash - photo editor |
Nebula: Horoscope & Astrology |
Sweet Selfie:Photo Editor, Cam |
Cartoon yourself & caricature |
Astroline: The Daily Horoscope |
FLMX - Video Editor |
Stickerfy: Sticker Maker |
Pixomatic - Background eraser |
SpeedPro Slow speed video edit |
Fortunescope: Palm Reader |
Music Zen - Relaxing Sounds |
Sticker Maker - BeSticky |
Picsjoy: Photo Editor & Cutout |
Photo To Sketch - Drawing book |
FX Master |
Mood Balance: Journal, Tracker |
Presets for Lightroom - Vidl |
Jigsaw Puzzle - Brain Games |
Lift: Story Maker |
Dazzle - Insta stories editor |
Baby Sticker- Track Milestones |
Life Palmistry - AI Palm & Tag |
Girl Games & Fun Cooking Games |
Photoly Remove Object & Editor |
Facetory: Face Yoga & Exercise |
VOCHI Cool Video Effects Maker |
Lucky Life - Future Seer |
Voice Changer - Avatar |
Face Seer -Time Traces |
Dazz Cam- D3D Photo Effect |
Translator -AI & Real time |
Picsloop-Cartoon & D3D Effect |
Beat.ly Music Video Maker |
Funny Clip Maker |
Pixel - Color by Number |
Cartoon Photo Editor-Comic Art |
Youni – Photo Effects, Presets |
UltraFX - Effect Video Maker |
Girl Games: Unicorn Slime |
Everbloom – Stories Editor |
Impresso - Insta Story Editor |
PDF Scanner: Document Scan |
Zodianic Astrology & Horoscope |
Beat.ly - Music Video Maker |
Dizzi - Photo & Video Effects |
TikCut - Video Editor Tempo MV |
Hyper Cleaner: Clean Phone |
Photic - Pic & Photo Editor |
Highlight Story Cover Maker! |
Cartoonify Photo Editor Camera |
PicMagic- Cartoon Photo Editor |
Cartoons Me - Photo Art Editor |
Vidos - Music Video Maker |
Camera+: Photo Video&Cutout |
Piconic - Photo Editor&Collage |
Sweet Pics - Baby Photo Editor |
FX Mage - Magic Video Effects |
Slimy: Anxiety Relief Slime 3D |
Frame - Slideshow Video Maker |
Auto Sticker Maker Studio |
iCons - Icon Changer App + |
ToonApp Cartoon Photo Editor |
MagicFX - Magic Video Effects |
Horoscope 2019 and Palm Reader |
PolyColor - Color by Polygon |
Famous: Celebrity Look Alike |
BoomArt - Auto Cutout |
Slime Boutique by TeasEar |
Handset - Second Phone Number |
Pixpic Color by Number |
SlidePic - Slideshow Maker |
Widja - Photo Widgets |
Astro+ Horoscope & Astrology |
FaceMe－Fun Personality Tests |
Watercolor Effect Oil Painting |
Widget PLUS+ - Photo & Weather |
Wordy - Word Search Adventure |
KeyTune - Custom keyboard |
aipic - Magic Photo Editor |
PicsFX:Photo&Video Editor |
Path - Horoscope & Astrology |
Magic Makeup - Tattoo Design |
tmm - Chat Fiction Stories |
Photo Collage - Collageable |
Followers+-My Ins Reports |
Hub - Story Templates Maker |
iWidget Pro : Custom widgets |
VidTempo - Music Video Maker |
Video Puzzles - Magic Puzzle |
Funny Face Swap Me - GIF Maker |
Body Editor : Manly Body&Hair |
Flame: Smart Online App |
Menu Maker! |
Fortunescan: Palmistry Online |
Video Maker - Photo Effects |
edjing Mix - dj app |
Guitar - Chords, Tabs & Games |
Piano - Lessons & Tiles Games |
Beat Maker Go - Make Music |
WeDrum: Drums, Real Drum Games |
Metronome - Tap Tempo & Rhythm |
Guitar Tuner - Ukulele & Bass |
Guitar - real games & lessons |
Drums: Play Beats & Drum Games |
Piano - Music & keyboard game |
Guitar Tuner Pro, Bass,Ukulele |
Beat maker pro - DJ Drum Pad |
Karaoke Songs - Voice Singing |
Piano Crush - Keyboard Games |
edjing Pro - music remix maker |
DJ it! - Music Mixer Pad |
Jambl: DJ Band & Beat Maker |
Guitar Play - Games & Songs |
Memoristo: Brain Test, IQ Game |
Loop Maker Pro - Music Maker |
Metronome Pro - Beat & Tempo |
Equalizer+ HD music player |
Bass Booster Volume Power Amp |
Equalizer Fx: Bass Booster App |
ScanGuru: PDF Document Scanner |
Drink Water ∙ Daily Reminder |
Password Manager - Lock Apps |
Live Wallpaper Maker: 4K Theme |
RECOLLECT: Color by Number |
Avatar Maker Character Creator |
Translator Guru: Voice & Text |
Ringtones HD ∙ Ringtone Maker |
Scanner App ∙ Scan & Sign PDF |
Translate Camera - Speak On |
The apps will also use fake reviews to fool potential victims, added Vávra.
"The app profile looks official and doesn’t raise red flags at first sight. However, upon closer investigation, it becomes apparent that a big portion of the reviews are fake (they contain repeating text or are poorly-worded and generic in nature). There is reason to believe this form of review boosting is becoming a more prominent practice," he said.
However, within the real reviews, users' dismay is clear.
"I did not want to purchase this! I was trying to back out of the whole thing! Not confirm a $15 purchase of a useless game that doesn't make sense... I just want my money back!!"
And, he warned, several popular apps that were previously free have now converted to the fleeceware model, and now offer expensive subscriptions.
"Judging by reviews, sometimes users who have previously paid for the full application are also forced into the fleeceware subscriptions without being given access to the already-purchased app. It is likely more developers will follow suit, as the revenue generated from fleeceware is evidently substantial."
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