152 Apps Removed From Google Play Store Due To SMS Scam

Google is constantly working to make Android apps safer for Android users. Every now and then, the tech giant check to see if apps on its Play Store are harmful to the its users. Recently, a total of 151 scam apps was discovered and removed from its Play Store. This came after the cybersecurity software company Avast recently discovered that these apps were involved in a widespread premium SMS scam.

The scam was termed UltimaSMS campaign, by Avast, after the first app the firm discovered in its investigation, which is called the Ultima Keyboard 3D Pro. According to the company, the 151 scam apps have been downloaded over 10.5 million times in more than 80 different countries. These apps were discovered in different categories including custom keyboards, QR code scanners, video and photo editors, spam call blockers, camera filters, and games.

How The Scam Works?

Avast discovered that once the apps are installed on a user’s phone, the phone’s location, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), and phone number are checked to discover the area code and language to use. Then it will prompt the user to provide their phone number and sometimes their email address, too. This information is then used to subscribe the user to premium SMS services without them realizing. The charges are typically $40 or more a month and it can take weeks or months for a user to realize.

Once an UltimaSMS app has achieved its goal, it either stops working or offers more subscription options rather than the promised functionality it was downloaded for. The problem is, even if a user uninstalls the app at this point the premium subscriptions will continue to take money from their accounts.

List Of Apps Removed From Google Play Store

1. AIM PRO Helper and Custom Crosshair
2. All HD Video SX – Smart Player
3. All Language Photo and Voice Translator
   AI
4. All Translator: Photo, Voice & Text
5. AmazeTranslate
6. Amazing Arab Videos
7. Amore Live Random Chat
8. Ano caller: Spam List & Caller ID AppLock X FREE
9. AppLocker X Pro 2021
10. AR Qibla Easy Finder Pro
11. AR Video PRO Downloader
12. Arabic Keyboard
13. Battery Animation Charge 2021
14. Battery Charging Effects: From 0 to 100%
15. Call Voice Recording 2.0
16. Calls ID Unlocker
17. Camera Translator
18. Cartoon Photo Editor Pro
19. Chat Keyboard Translator PRO
20. Chat Translator for WhatsApp
21. Chat Translator Pro for WhatsApp
22. Clap and Find
23. Cold Fan Free 2021
24. Colorful Call Screen & Phone Flash
25. CosmosVPN
26. Couch Watcher – Guide of Streaming
27. Crime City: Revenge
28. DiskRecover: Photo & Files Recovery
29. Downloader ALL Social file
30. Dynamic HD & 4K Wallpapers
31. Earth Scanner
32. Easy Chat Translator for WhatsApp
33. Easy Chat Translator: All Language
34. Easy Hidden Apps Detector
35. Easy iOS Launcher 2021
36. Easy Photo Recovery 2021
37. Easy Smart Translator Pro
38. Easy Wifi Access & Fast Vpn
39. EasyCode: QR and Barcode Scanner
40. Egyptian Gods
41. Fast Dates Chat
42. Fingerprint Hider 2021
43. Fitness Ultimate 2021
44. Football Masters 2021
45. ForMuslims
46. Free Launcher X Pro
47. Free Secret Downloader
48. Future AI Scan Free 2021
49. Future Scanner FREE 2021
50. FX Animate Editor Pro
51. Game Center: Complete Edition
52. GT Sports Racing Online
53. Hacker Simulator App
54. HDlife Camera and Video
55. Hidden Section: Secret Lock
56. ICall U – Online Video Hotchat
57. iDownloader: Social Network Media
58. inpulse – DJ Mix App
59. iOS Launcher X 2021
60. LED Border
61. Likes & Followers for Tik-Tok
62. Live Cam Pro 2021: Earth cam & Live
    Street View
63. LivePhoto Animator
64. Loopy Live: Global Streaming Video Chat
65. Luck Casino
66. Ludo Masterpiece Online
67. Ludo Masters 2021
68. Magic Fonts and Keyboard 2021
69. Magic Keyboards and Fonts
70. Magic Mix Cut – Super Video Editor
71. Magic Pop It: AR & 3D Relax
72. Make Wallpaper and Widget
73. Mawlid An-Nabi
74. Mawlid An-Nabi
75. Meme Voice Changer PRO
76. MiaWall4K
77. Mobile Scanner Pro: PDF Scanner App, Scan
    to PDF
78. Muslim Memoji & Stickers for Whatsapp
79. Muslim Stickers and Memoji for WhatsApp
80. My Mia 4K Wallpapers
81. My Photo Battery Charging 2021
82. My Rolling Icons
83. New Body Shape Editor
84. NewVision Camera
85. NOWDownloader and Private Apps
86. Parallels – Multi Accounts
87. Phone Finder
88. Photellon
89. Photo & Voice Translator
90. Photo Animation PRO
91. PhotoLab Pro +
92. Photoshop Detector
93. Pixelize Art
94. Pixler: Face Retouch & Effects
95. Pro Calls Recorder
96. Pro Tuber Ad Blocker for Video
97. Pro Video Downloader 2021
98. Professional Hidden Device Detector
99. Projector HD/AR Video Editor
100. Projector video HD Editor
101. Pulse Rate Checker
102. Pure Tube PRO: Block Video Ads
103. Qibla Finder: Qibla Compass & Prayer
     Times 2021
104. Rainbowed: Gay Random chat & Live
     stream
105. Rec Old File
106. Recovery Old Photo
107. Reface Ultra
108. RGB Neon HD Keyboard Background
109. Roll Your Icons
110. Rubic’s Cube: Real Time Solver
111. SecVPN: Fast and Secure VPN
112. Smart City Taxi
113. Smart Global Translator
114. Soltpapers: 4K Custom Wallpapers
115. Spam Calls Buster
116. StarMaker PRO
117. Stay Fit: Home Fitness Plan
118. Stickers Maker ART
119. Stickers Up!
120. Teammate Finder
121. ToEdit: Body and Face Retouch
122. Truck Driver Simulation
123. TrueCaller ID: Caller ID, Spam Block and Chat (Note: This is not the legit Truecaller from True Software Scandinavia AB.)
124. Ultima Keyboard 3D Pro
125. Ultra Camera HD
126. Ultra Live Wallpapers 4Κ and Ringtones
127. Video Downloader Master
128. Video Saver & Private Browser
129. VideoMixer Editor Pro
130. VidMixer Pro
131. VPN Fastest Edition
132. VPN Toaster: Easy Network Access
133. Wallpaper Anime for Android
134. Wallpaper XYZ Pro
135. Wally4K
136. Waterdrinker Reminder
137. Whistle Phone Finder
138. WhoCall Caller ID and Spam Blocker
139. Whos Called: Multi-SIM Caller ID and
     SpamBlock
140. Wi – Fi Holder
141. Wi-Fi Around: All Wi-Fi and Hotspots
     Unlock
142. Wi-Fi Opensignal
143. Wi-Fi Password Unlock
144. Wi-Fi Secret Master
145. Wi-Fi Security and VPN
146. WI-FI Unlock Password
147. WI-FI UnlockerPRO
148. WOX – Antivirus & Cleaner, Applock,
     Booster
149. XCall
150. XN Wallpapers: 4K/3D/Parallax, Auto
     Changer

Google is warning Android phone users to delete the 151 dangerous mobile phone apps listed above. If you have any of the listed apps, it will be wise to uninstall then right now just to be safe. Also, you should contact your mobile carrier if you spot any unusual charges.

Source: Github.com