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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

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