Delete These Android Crypto Apps Now: 20 Phishing Apps Found on Play Store

Researchers have found 20 Android apps designed to steal cryptocurrency by impersonating popular wallets and gaining access by faking services. If you have crypto, you should ensure you haven’t downloaded any of these fake apps.

Experts at Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL) found the apps on the Google Play Store, which have since been removed. Some of the apps had been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times, and if they’re on your device, they’ll remain there until you manually delete them.

The fake apps impersonate services Bulix Crypto, Harvest Finance blog, Hyperliquid, Meteora Exchange, OpenOcean Exchange, Pancake Swap, Raydium, Suiet Wallet, and SushiSwap. CRIL found multiple fake apps for some services.

If you use any of these crypto platforms, head to Cyble’s full research report to see the specific Android package names to help you identify whether you downloaded a malicious version instead of the official app.

Those who installed the apps were redirected to a URL where it asked for a 12-word phrase connected to their official wallet. With that phrase, the threat actor is sometimes able to take funds from the wallet.

Cyble says the scammers managed to navigate Google’s Play Store by using developer accounts that were already established with multiple apps on offer. Some of these were uploaded by accounts that previously offered Android games.

If you’ve downloaded one of these and you’re worried you’ve been tricked, you should find an alternative way to access your crypto wallet without using the fake app. You should change your access information as well as reporting the potential of malicious access directly to the service.

If you remain concerned, you may also decide to take your funds from the account and put them in an alternative service to ensure your money is safe.

About James Peckham

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I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

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