Common Android scams you should be aware of…
We’ve all heard about those pesky e-mails people get from someone who claims to have millions of dollars waiting for you to claim, all you need to do is send your bank details and they’ll give you 50% of the wealth…of course, in reality, it’s a big scam and you should avoid at all costs.
The same is true with Android. Unfortunately no matter how much we advance with technology, people are also advancing with their own scams that are getting smarter and smarter. But don’t worry, this post should give you a little idea of what to look out for to stay ahead of the pesky pests who are after your information.
The Classic Tech Support Scam
This kind of scam has been around for decades and you’d be surprised how quickly people will give out their information to someone. Basically you’ll get a phone call to your shiny new Android smartphone and the person calling you is from your service provider or they helped manufacture your Samsung Galaxy…except they didn’t and they’re not. They then ask you for information which a lot of people willingly hand over because ‘Derek from Verizon’ asked politely in order to ensure you’re happy with your purchase.
A big one to look out for is if you get called because your device is infected with something or other. This is one of the biggest scams going and you’ll slowly be reeled in to fork over your credit card details or to purchase a new device over their ‘fancy new website’ which is just a phony scam site, or you’ll need to pay in advance for them to remotely clean up your device. If someone calls you offering to help you, whether they are genuinely from your service provider or not, be cautious and never give out your information to anybody if you’re not certain.
The Identical Apps Scam
So you’ve heard about that new game which everyone is raving about, and after a quick search on the store you’ve found dozens of the same app, all which look and act exactly like the one you’ve been recommended. The difference is some apps are actually malware that secretly steal your personal or financial information...tut tut to those developers. They can also track your location, communicate with your contacts and then repeat the process with them. Of course, for the most part you won’t find these dodgy apps on the Google Play Store (or any reputable Android Market). However keep an eye out for dodgy APKs. APKs are the files which contain the app or game.
If you’re not too sure about whether an app is fishy then read through the reviews and check the permissions…why does that flashlight app need to access your contacts, GPS, calls, messages, and media? Well, it doesn’t. Don’t trust all reviews either, generally if out of 10 reviews, 7 are saying its a scam and 3 are saying it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, then you’re probably better steering clear.
The Repair Shop Scam
You got a little excited watching the football and ended up throwing your smartphone against the wall. It works but you’ve damaged the screen so the next day you go into town and walk into the ‘We Repair EVERYTHING’ shop. They are reasonably priced and the guy at the till even smiled at you. You get your device back with a new screen and life goes on…except maybe it doesn’t go quite that smoothly.
Now don’t get me wrong, not all repair shops are dodgy, there are many reputable places however there are also many places that bypass all of your security and go through everything, your photos, your notes, your messages…nothing is sacred. Some even swap out your expensive new bits for old parts that don’t deserve to be sitting next to your Android let alone inside of it.
Always do your homework before you go to get a device repaired and always remove any sensitive information. Even the most highly regarded store could have someone working their who isn’t quite legit.a
Those are some of the most common scams you might encounter during your Android’s lifetime, and it’s not specific to Android of course. The same kind of thing happens with desktops, Apple products and other electronic devices. Always read reviews on a place or an app and if it seems dodgy, avoid it. If you know some scams that are floating around but isn’t listed here then please drop them in the comments so everyone can feel that little bit safer.
