Google pulls 17 fraudulent Android loan apps targeting Indian users
1 year, 3 months ago

Google pulls 17 fraudulent Android loan apps targeting Indian users

India TV News  

Google pulls 17 fraudulent Android loan apps targeting Indian users As per the privacy policies of these apps, if those permissions are not granted, the loan will not be reimbursed to the users. Researchers said that they have found 18 fraudulent loan apps on Play Store that personate themselves as genuine personal loan service providers. ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko, who uncovered many of SpyLoan apps said, “These malicious applications exploit the trust that users place in legitimate loan providers, using sophisticated techniques to deceive people and steal a very wide range of personal information.” As per the report, the creators of these fogery apps, blackmail and harass their victims, and they even threaten them for life. Google pulls 17 fraudulent Android loan apps targeting Indian users About SpyLoan scheme Back in 2020, the researchers traced the origins of the SpyLoan scheme.

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History of this topic

New scam in India? Scammers gain access to man’s phone screen; he turns to internet for help
2 months, 1 week ago

New scam in India? Scammers gain access to man’s phone screen; he turns to internet for help

Hindustan Times  

A Reddit user recently took to the platform to share a concerning pop-up message he encountered on his smartphone. The message, which read, “Someone has access to your screen,” warned that sensitive content had been hidden by Google for security reasons. The pop-up suggested that an app might be accessing the screen without consent and advised uninstalling the suspicious application, …

Govt proposes crackdown on unregulated lending, may ban loan apps and impose ₹1 crore penalty, 10-year jail term
3 months ago

Govt proposes crackdown on unregulated lending, may ban loan apps and impose ₹1 crore penalty, 10-year jail term

Hindustan Times  

The central government is planning to crack down on unregulated lending, for which it has introduced a draft bill, proposing stringent measures like 10 years of prison time along with heavy fines for violators, according to a Business Standard report. These measures were first suggested by the Reserve Bank of India’s Working Group on Digital Lending in its its November …

Protect yourself from cybercriminals, delete THESE apps before it's too late
3 months ago

Protect yourself from cybercriminals, delete THESE apps before it's too late

India TV News  

Using a smartphone without apps is akin to using a feature phone. A number of apps harbor malware that is capable of stealing sensitive data, including personal information and banking details, directly from our smartphones. These apps, which were downloaded by millions of users—often without a second thought—were involved in stealing crucial user data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, …

Delete these 15 fake loan apps now to protect your bank account, over 80 lakh users affected
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Delete these 15 fake loan apps now to protect your bank account, over 80 lakh users affected

India TV News  

India ranks as the number one country for downloading fake apps, according to a recent report by McAfee. McAfee has identified 15 specific fake loan apps that have been downloaded by millions—about 8 million users in total—mostly from the Google Play Store. These fake loan apps often ask for various permissions when installed, such as access to your calls, messages, …

ED launches probe in multi crore stock market frauds run with fake apps
6 months, 3 weeks ago

ED launches probe in multi crore stock market frauds run with fake apps

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate has initiated a money-laundering investigation into an alleged multi-crore fraudulent online scam in which a large number of gullible investors across the country were cheated of their hard-earned money by inducing them to invest in stock markets through fake mobile apps. MODUS-OPERANDI: ED’s probe revealed that the victims were being cheated by allegedly entrapping them into …

Indian consumers still falling prey to unlawful loan applications: Report
11 months, 1 week ago

Indian consumers still falling prey to unlawful loan applications: Report

India TV News  

One-third of the high-confidence customers have limited knowledge about their digital loans in India. A recent report from the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment shared the insights from a customer survey which was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 to systematically understand the gaps in users' approaches and knowledge about Digital Lending Applications in India and it further drives …

Fake messaging apps espionage campaign targets Indian users
11 months, 1 week ago

Fake messaging apps espionage campaign targets Indian users

India TV News  

Researchers have reportedly discovered an active espionage campaign 'eXotic Visit', that has been targeting Android users with fake messaging apps. In a report, the researchers said, "Apps that contain XploitSPY can extract contact lists and files, the device’s GPS location, and the names of files listed in specific directories related to the camera, downloads, and various messaging apps such as …

Google crackdown against BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi: Here's what happened
1 year ago

Google crackdown against BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi: Here's what happened

Hindustan Times  

Google is currently mulling taking down apps by 10 companies in India, including some of the top matrimony apps in the country. Google is planning to take down multiple Indian matrimony apps Google's parent company Alphabet Inc is expected to commence a showdown with BharatMatrimony and Jeevansathi, two of the most noted matrimony apps in India, over the service fee …

Why did Google take action against 10 Indian developers? Here's all you need to know
1 year ago

Why did Google take action against 10 Indian developers? Here's all you need to know

India TV News  

Google has announced that it will remove some Indian apps from its Play Store. “After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court’s order, we are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem, as we do for any form of policy violation globally,” Google wrote in …

Google starts removing multiple Indian apps from Play Store for not paying service fee
1 year ago

Google starts removing multiple Indian apps from Play Store for not paying service fee

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. While Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman described the move as "dark day" for the Internet in India, Kuku FM co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena, in a statement, said that Google was behaving like a 'monopoly'. …

Google removed over 2200 fraudulent loan apps from Play Store
1 year, 1 month ago

Google removed over 2200 fraudulent loan apps from Play Store

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday informed Parliament that Google has suspended or removed more than 2,200 fraudulent loan apps from its Play Store between September 2022 and August 2023. “The government is constantly engaged with the Reserve Bank of India and other regulators and stakeholders concerned to control fraudulent loan apps,” minister of state for finance Bhagwat K Karad …

Google removes 2,200 fraudulent loan apps from Play Store: MoS Finance
1 year, 1 month ago

Google removes 2,200 fraudulent loan apps from Play Store: MoS Finance

Hindustan Times  

The government is constantly engaged with the Reserve Bank of India and other regulators and stakeholders concerned to control fraudulent loan apps, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat K Karad said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. HT Image "As per the information received from MeitY, during April 2021-July 2022, Google had reviewed approximately 3,500 to 4,000 loan apps …

Fraudulent loan apps proliferate in India. But how big of a problem are they?
1 year, 2 months ago

Fraudulent loan apps proliferate in India. But how big of a problem are they?

Firstpost  

The Centre has ordered popular social media platforms and other websites not to host The Centre is cracking down on fraudulent loan apps. The government on Wednesday ordered social media platforms and other websites not to host Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “One of the areas we are now cracking down on is advertising of fraudulent loan apps that many …

The dark world of illegal loan apps in India
1 year, 2 months ago

The dark world of illegal loan apps in India

Al Jazeera  

Borrowers are harassed by reps of lending apps who abuse, threaten and blackmail them by accessing their contacts, pics. Kreditbe’s name is a rip-off of a legitimate loan app called KreditBee, a common modus operandi for these illegal loan apps which often choose names similar to reputable brands to create a sense of authenticity. In the last three years, Loan …

Govt of India bans over 100 fraudulent Chinese websites in crackdown on China-operated financial scams
1 year, 3 months ago

Govt of India bans over 100 fraudulent Chinese websites in crackdown on China-operated financial scams

Firstpost  

The government of India has banned over 100 Chinese-operated investment scam websites. These websites were found to be intricately linked to multiple bank accounts, with funds being transferred between accounts to confuse investigating agencies In a decisive move against financial fraud, the Government of India has launched a comprehensive initiative to ban over 100 Chinese-operated investment scam websites that have …

Google enters retail loan business in India, Google Pay to launch sachet loans
1 year, 5 months ago

Google enters retail loan business in India, Google Pay to launch sachet loans

Live Mint  

Google India on Thursday announced sachet loans on the Google Pay application to help small businesses in the country. Google India said that merchants in India often need smaller loans, hence, the tech giant launched sachet loans on the Gpay application. The company will provide loans to small businesses at just ₹15,000 that can be repaid in simpler repayment amounts …

7 reasons why it is essential to stay cautious of digital lending apps
1 year, 7 months ago

7 reasons why it is essential to stay cautious of digital lending apps

Live Mint  

With the rapid advancement of technology and the proliferation of smartphones, the fintech industry in India has witnessed significant growth in recent years. Predatory lending practices Digital lending apps often target vulnerable individuals who may have limited access to formal banking services or who urgently require funds. Data privacy and security concerns Digital lending apps typically require borrowers to share …

How fake loan apps extort money and push people into debt traps
1 year, 8 months ago

How fake loan apps extort money and push people into debt traps

The Hindu  

July 13, 2023 08:56 pm | Updated July 14, 2023 01:07 pm IST - Bengaluru Bengaluru Ramesh Reddy, 35, borrowed ₹2 lakh for a couple of weeks from a money-lending app a month ago to tide over a crisis in his business. Good Bye.” Flood of apps Loan apps advertised on social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, are an …

Apple removes 6 loan apps from App Store: Read how predatory loan apps target the vulnerable and how to stay safe
1 year, 8 months ago

Apple removes 6 loan apps from App Store: Read how predatory loan apps target the vulnerable and how to stay safe

Op India  

Apple has reportedly removed six predatory personal loan apps from App Store in India in the first week of July 2023. A user reviewed the app on App Store and said, “I borrowed an amount in a helpless situation and a day before repayment due date I got some messages with my pic and my contacts in my phone saying …

Apple removed these loan apps from App Store. Delete them from your iPhone now
1 year, 8 months ago

Apple removed these loan apps from App Store. Delete them from your iPhone now

Hindustan Times  

Technology behemoth Apple has removed several lending apps from the App Store in India after reports of them harassing the borrowers came into light. Recently, the App Store had stopped more than $2 billion in fraudulent transaction last year and rejected nearly 17 lakh app submissions for having failed in meeting the company's standards of quality and safety. Fintech sector …

Bengaluru cops book 15 loan apps for hacking into borrower’s phone
1 year, 8 months ago

Bengaluru cops book 15 loan apps for hacking into borrower’s phone

The Hindu  

Bengaluru Bengaluru East Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics Police have booked 15 loan apps for hacking into a mobile phone of a borrower, and morphing pictures stolen from the cell phone. The police have booked Easy Money Loan App, Salarypls, Easy Loan, Cash Me, Pocket Me, Get Rupee, Incash, Money, Rainbow Money, Magic Loan, Homecash Delhi Credit, Shinny Loan, …

Urgent warning for Android users over apps that steal your bank details
1 year, 8 months ago

Urgent warning for Android users over apps that steal your bank details

Daily Mail  

Android users across the UK have been issued with an urgent warning over a security threat that could end up stealing their bank details. The latest threat was discovered by the security team at ThreatFabric and is using apps uploaded to the Google Play Store to infect phones with fraudulent Anatsa banking trojan. An existing bug is wreaking havoc for …

Beware Android users some Google Play Store apps are infected with spyware, uninstall them right now
1 year, 9 months ago

Beware Android users some Google Play Store apps are infected with spyware, uninstall them right now

India Today  

Google Play is one of the largest app stores globally, offering over 3 million apps for download. With such a wide selection of apps and a vast user base, the Android app store, operated by Google, also becomes a prime target for hackers seeking to spread malware. In a recent discovery, cyber security researchers have detected several suspicious apps on …

Digital Loan Apps in India denied access to user location and call logs: Know Google’s latest guidelines
1 year, 9 months ago

Digital Loan Apps in India denied access to user location and call logs: Know Google’s latest guidelines

India TV News  

Digital loan apps have emerged as a troublesome issue in recent years, exploiting individuals looking for quick and easy money. The companies responsible for these apps no longer have access to sensitive data, including contacts, photos, videos, location information, and call logs from users' devices. Moreover, Google is now demanding that all legitimate app companies provide supporting documentation to verify …

Strict rules for lending apps, combating malware underline Google’s Play Store
1 year, 10 months ago

Strict rules for lending apps, combating malware underline Google’s Play Store

Hindustan Times  

Google has revealed some numbers, which perhaps best illustrate the problem, of how malicious apps and their developers, are attempting to hoodwink unsuspecting users. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} The company’s data suggests they prevented as many as 1.43 million apps from being published on the Play Store for Android users, which violated one or more policy conditions. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} …

Google prevented 1.43 million apps from entering Play Store for policy violation
1 year, 10 months ago

Google prevented 1.43 million apps from entering Play Store for policy violation

Live Mint  

Search giant Google said Thursday that it has blocked more than 1.43 million ‘policy-violating apps’ from entering the Play Store. The company also said it has "raised the bar" for new developers joining the Play Store ecosystem, resulting in a reduction in the number of accounts used to publish violative apps. In a blog post on Thursday, the search giant …

Google took action against over 3,500 loan apps in India for violating norms in 2022
1 year, 10 months ago

Google took action against over 3,500 loan apps in India for violating norms in 2022

India TV News  

New Delhi: Google took action against over 3,500 loan apps in India in 2022 for violating Play Store policy requirements, the company said on Thursday. Google said that overall it prevented 1.43 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play banning 173,000 bad accounts preventing over USD 2 billion in fraudulent and abusive transactions in 2022. "In India, in …

Google to restrict personal loan apps from May 31
1 year, 11 months ago

Google to restrict personal loan apps from May 31

India TV News  

Google has officially stated that it will update its Personal Loans policy for users in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Kenya and Nigeria. Google said, "We're updating our Personal Loans policy to state that apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos.” It further added, "Apps that provide personal loans, or have the primary …

Chinese apps were banned because…: Foreign Secretary explains
2 years ago

Chinese apps were banned because…: Foreign Secretary explains

Hindustan Times  

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Saturday said that the Chinese applications were banned in India to stop the spread of misinformation, the spread of disinformation, and fake information. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra "To answer your question on what's the interface that government has, to balance the availability of information, availability of misinformation, the spread of disinformation and fake information, …

Chinese Loan Apps Exploited Covid Crisis, Weak Regulatory Framework to Cheat Millions of Indians, Says ED
2 years ago

Chinese Loan Apps Exploited Covid Crisis, Weak Regulatory Framework to Cheat Millions of Indians, Says ED

News 18  

Chinese loan apps took advantage of the Covid crisis in India and cheated millions of gullible people who were in a financial mess. The central investigating agency has highlighted how the Chinese apps took advantage of a weak regulatory framework in India to make mind-boggling profits. Indian investigating agencies are keeping an eye on loan apps like Money View, Krazy …

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more
2 years, 1 month ago

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more

India TV News  

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more The government has banned a bulk of apps which has a third-party link. Witnessing the constant complaints against the Chinese loan and betting applications, MeitY- the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has started the process of banning 138 betting apps in India. Here is …

India to ban 138 betting apps, 94 loan-lending apps with Chinese links
2 years, 1 month ago

India to ban 138 betting apps, 94 loan-lending apps with Chinese links

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: In a bid to check fraudulent practices by some 'fake' mobile applications or apps in India, the government has initiated the process to ban 138 betting apps and 94 loan-lending apps with Chinese links on 'urgent and emergency' basis. It is also learnt that the action is being taken by the ministry of electronics and information technology on …

Centre to ban 138 betting apps, 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links
2 years, 1 month ago

Centre to ban 138 betting apps, 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links

The Hindu  

In a major crackdown, the Central government has initiated the process to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links on an “urgent” and “emergency” basis, top government sources said on February 5. States like Telangana, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh as well as central intelligence agencies had then asked the Union Home Ministry to …

Crypto scam app bypass security restrictions on Apple and Google app stores: Report
2 years, 1 month ago

Crypto scam app bypass security restrictions on Apple and Google app stores: Report

The Hindu  

Cybercriminals operating crypto scam apps have found a way to bypass security protocols on Apple and Google official app stores to publish fraudulent apps, a report from Sophos cybersecurity shared. Threat actors are remotely changing content to make fake apps slide through the official review process of Apple and Google app stores to post apps which are then used to …

How the Chinese use Indians to run investment scams
2 years, 4 months ago

How the Chinese use Indians to run investment scams

Live Mint  

MUMBAI : It was a WhatsApp forward she received from a friend in April that proved to be the undoing. While there is little online trace of Loxam anywhere or any evidence that it was owned by a registered company, the Hyderabad police said they found that the money of the complainant was deposited in an IndusInd Bank account in …

Google India Responds To Second Setback In A Week: Here’s What It Said
2 years, 4 months ago

Google India Responds To Second Setback In A Week: Here’s What It Said

News 18  

Google India has claimed that it remains committed to its users in the country and is reviewing the decision to take the next steps towards its latest order from the Competition Commission of India on Tuesday. The search engine giant has been penalised for its anti-trust policies where app developers are mandatorily asked to push for payments via the Google …

Govt imposes Rs 936 crore penalty on Google for exploiting market dominance, using Play Store policies against App developers
2 years, 4 months ago

Govt imposes Rs 936 crore penalty on Google for exploiting market dominance, using Play Store policies against App developers

Op India  

On Tuesday, the Competitions Commission of India imposed a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on Google for exploiting its dominant position in the market with regard to its Play Store policies. Competition Commission of India imposes a penalty of Rs 936.44 cr on Google for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies, apart from issuing a …

Applying for a loan via a digital lending app? 6 key things to remember
2 years, 5 months ago

Applying for a loan via a digital lending app? 6 key things to remember

Live Mint  

Raising a tiny amount of loan via a mobile application is nothing short of overly convenient, but is sadly riddled with a set of risks. A recently-released statement released by the Finance Ministry stated that the “predatory recovery practices involving blackmailing, criminal intimidation, etc.” by these illegal loan app providers were a concern. Stay away from instant disbursals: Experts also …

Andhra Pradesh: Probe into loan app cases finds links with servers operating from Pakistan, China
2 years, 5 months ago

Andhra Pradesh: Probe into loan app cases finds links with servers operating from Pakistan, China

The Hindu  

The police have sounded alert as the investigation into the loan app fraud and harassment cases have found links with servers operating from Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries. “The investigating officers have found that the addresses of these loan app operators and the WhatsApp numbers used in the transactions have links with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Nepal. The …

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps
2 years, 6 months ago

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps

The Hindu  

Alphabet Inc's Google has been asked by the Indian government and the central bank to introduce more stringent checks to help curb the use of illegal digital lending applications in India, according to sources. Even though Google doesn't fall under the Reserve Bank of India's ambit, the U.S. tech giant has been called several times in the last few months …

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps: Report
2 years, 6 months ago

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps: Report

Live Mint  

Alphabet Inc's Google has been asked by the Indian government and the central bank to introduce more stringent checks to help curb the use of illegal digital lending applications in India, according to sources. Even though Google doesn't fall under the Reserve Bank of India's ambit, the U.S. tech giant has been called several times in the last few months …

India preparing whitelist of legal loan and finance apps, will ban others soon
2 years, 6 months ago

India preparing whitelist of legal loan and finance apps, will ban others soon

India Today  

Illegal loan apps are flooding the Google Play store and Apple App store. On Friday, the Finance ministry expressed concerns over the increasing number of illegal loan apps on the Google Play store and Apple app store. The decision comes after the union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a meeting to discuss the various issues related …

The fatal lure of instant loan apps
2 years, 6 months ago

The fatal lure of instant loan apps

The Hindu  

“Mummy, I am leaving.” This is how Amit Yadav, 35, a mechanic from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, concluded his note on August 23 before adding the words “ek fakir insaan ” below his name and signature. In response, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Central government had taken cognisance of such cases where digital loan apps “originating from one particular …

Pay Workers in Cash, Crypto Route, Foreign Servers: Sly Ways of Lending App Kingpins - News18
2 years, 6 months ago

Pay Workers in Cash, Crypto Route, Foreign Servers: Sly Ways of Lending App Kingpins - News18

News 18  

Predatory lending by instant loan apps has led to a spate of suicides in several states. PART 1 | India May Ban 300 Apps to Plug the ‘Sleaze Route’ of Predatory Lending The whole architecture of these predatory apps is built in a way so that the Chinese nationals who started everything can escape easily without leaving any footprint, officials …

Google Banned Over 2000 Harmful Personal Loan Apps In India This Year From Play Store
2 years, 6 months ago

Google Banned Over 2000 Harmful Personal Loan Apps In India This Year From Play Store

News 18  

Google said it has purged more than 2,000 controversial personal loan apps from its Play Store in India in the January-June period after consulting with the law enforcement agencies. Google now requires personal loan apps in India to complete the additional proof of eligibility requirements. The eligibility includes copy of their license by the Reserve Bank of India, and declaration …

When Lending Apps Bully Victims, Debt Trap Sometimes Becomes Deathtrap - News18
2 years, 6 months ago

When Lending Apps Bully Victims, Debt Trap Sometimes Becomes Deathtrap - News18

News 18  

Predatory lending by instant loan apps has led to a spate of suicides in several states. A few months ago, 28-year-old Rajkumar living in Hyderabad also ended his life after facing exactly the same humiliation, which is the modus operandi of Chinese loan apps. PART 5 | Govt Begins Crackdown on Chinese Loan App Companies in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Hyderabad Even …

Google removes over 2,000 loan apps from India Play Store since Jan
2 years, 6 months ago

Google removes over 2,000 loan apps from India Play Store since Jan

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW DELHI: Google has removed over 2,000 loan apps from India Play Store since January this year for violating terms, misrepresenting information, and questionable offline behaviour, a senior official said. Saikat Mitra, Senior Director and Head of Trust and Safety, Google APAC said the company is commited to complying with regulations in all jurisdictions it operates in, and termed online …

Google Play got rid of 2K controversial personal loan apps- Know more
2 years, 6 months ago

Google Play got rid of 2K controversial personal loan apps- Know more

India TV News  

Google has stated that it has started taking off 2,000 controversial personal loan apps from its Play Store in India in the January-June period after consulting with law enforcement agencies. The eligibility includes a copy of their license by the Reserve Bank of India, and a declaration that they are not directly engaged in money lending activities and are only …

India May Ban 300 Apps to Plug the 'Sleaze Route' of Predatory Lending - News18
2 years, 7 months ago

India May Ban 300 Apps to Plug the 'Sleaze Route' of Predatory Lending - News18

News 18  

Predatory lending by instant loan apps have led to a spate of suicides in several states. PART 3 | When Lending Apps Bully Victims, Debt Trap Sometimes Becomes Deathtrap Traced to China and suspected to be one of the biggest money laundering scams, the apps are also being watched closely by the Enforcement Directorate, Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Intelligence Bureau, …

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