Consumers Beware Fake Retail Apps Targeting Data Theft, Warns FTC

Beware of fake mobile phone retail apps that impersonate well-known brands to steal your personal information, said FTC Consumer Education Specialist Ari Lazarus in a Thursday blog post about how fraudulent apps can pilfer an individual's credit card and bank data, install malware or demand ransom to unlock a device. He said consumers should hop onto a retailer's website to see if it's promoting an app and where they can download it. Consumers can also search a brand name and type "fake app" to see if there are reports of the brand being spoofed, he said. Users also should read reviews of an app before downloading because if there are none then the app was likely newly created and might be a fake, whereas established retailer apps typically have thousands of reviews, said Lazarus. Plus, he said people should be careful of misspellings in an app's description, which may indicate the app was created quickly. He recommended consumers, if using an app to shop, save a product description and price, online shopping receipts and any communication with sellers, and monitor credit card statements for dubious charges.