Google Play Scammers Use Early Access to Evade Public Scrutiny
Scammers are exploiting Google Play's Early Access program to evade public scrutiny of their potentially deceptive apps. The feature, designed for developers to gather feedback and fix bugs before releasing a finished app, is being abused by malicious actors who block users from leaving reviews or ratings.
According to Bitdefender, a cybersecurity firm, hundreds of thousands of installs have been recorded for fake casino games, reward apps, and utility apps that may infringe on third-party trademarks. Misleading social ads are also being used to drive users to these apps, often featuring celebrity deepfakes or free-spin offers.
Google has confirmed it is investigating the situation after Bitdefender notified them of their findings. The cybersecurity company warns that 'Early Access removes one of Google Play's most important trust signals,' making it harder for users to identify potentially deceptive apps.