93,000 Android Users Tricked by Fake Crypto Mining Apps

At least 93,000 Android smartphone users have been deceived by online scammers into purchasing fake cryptocurrency mining apps, according to a report by cybersecurity experts at Lookout.

Details of the Scam

The experts identified a total of 172 fake apps, which they categorized into two families: BitScam (83,800 installations) and CloudScam (9,600 installations). The scammers marketed these apps as cloud-based cryptocurrency mining services.

Out of these, 25 apps were available directly from the official Google Play Store, while the rest could be downloaded from third-party sources. The Lookout report clarifies that these fake apps did not have any of the features promised by their creators.

Financial Losses

As a result, the scammers simply filled their own wallets at the expense of trusting users who bought the apps. In total, victims lost $350,000—$300,000 from app sales and another $50,000 through fake updates. Thousands of Android enthusiasts around the world fell for the scheme.

“These apps managed to go unnoticed for one simple reason—they didn’t perform any malicious actions. Essentially, this software is just an empty shell with no real functionality,” the Lookout experts explained.

Additional Tricks and Payment Methods

Furthermore, CloudScam and BitScam also offered subscriptions for users who, for some reason, couldn’t purchase the app through the Google Play Store. Notably, users could pay for the fake software with digital currencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Google’s Response and Ongoing Risks

Fortunately, Google has already taken action by removing all the fake apps from the official store. However, it’s important to note that these apps are still available on some third-party platforms, so users should remain cautious.