15 Apps That Can Drain Your Bank Account, Stay Alert!

Jakarta – The increasing number of apps that simplify daily activities also brings more opportunities for dangerous apps to exploit users financially. Many untrustworthy apps pose serious threats to your bank account balance.

Unbeknownst to users, these apps can serve as entry points for cybercriminals to drain bank accounts. These threats typically come from fake apps and malware hidden within apps.

Additionally, apps with overly broad permissions can potentially steal personal data, including banking information. Therefore, it’s crucial for users to be more cautious when downloading and using apps, especially those related to finance.

15 Apps That Can Drain Your Bank Account
Cited from TomsGuide, 15 apps available on Google Play Store have been reported as dangerous and capable of draining bank accounts. According to a recent report by cybersecurity firm McAfee, numerous fake online loan (pinjol) apps are widely circulated and popular among Android users.

These dangerous apps have been downloaded over 8 million times in total. McAfee revealed that these apps steal personal and financial data from victims, enabling cybercriminals to access victims’ financial apps and drain their accounts.

Most of these apps target users in South America, South Asia, and Africa. The crimes are increasingly sophisticated, using names, logos, and designs similar to legitimate financial apps. These apps are often promoted through fake ads on social media.

McAfee has labeled these fake loan apps as ‘SpyLoan.’ If users unknowingly install them, it’s advised to delete the apps immediately to avoid the risk of bank account theft or data breaches.

Digital fraud schemes like these are becoming more prevalent, including through APK files downloaded from unofficial sources. Common phishing tactics used to deceive victims include fake invitations or package delivery notifications. Here are the apps, most of which are fake loan apps:

  1. Préstamo Seguro-Rápido, Seguro (1 million downloads)
  2. Préstamo Rápido-Credit Easy (1 million downloads)
  3. Get Baht Easily – Quick Loan (1 million downloads)
  4. RupiahKilat-Dana cair (1 million downloads)
  5. Borrow Happil – Loan (1 million downloads)
  6. Happy Money (1 million downloads)
  7. KreditKu – Uang Online (500,000 downloads)
  8. Dana Kilat – Pinjaman Kecil (500,000 downloads)
  9. Cash Loan-Vay tiền (500,000 downloads)
  10. RapidFinance (100,000 downloads)
  11. PrêtPourVous (100,000 downloads)
  12. Huayna Money – Préstamo Rápido (100,000 downloads)
  13. IPréstamos: Rápido Crédito (100,000 downloads)
  14. ConseguirSol-Dinero Rápido (100,000 downloads)
  15. ÉcoPrêt Prêt En Ligne (100,000 downloads)

These apps are just the tip of the iceberg. Security experts at Zscaler have reported discovering over 90 dangerous apps capable of draining bank accounts.

According to Zscaler ThreatLabz, these apps have been installed more than 5.5 million times. However, they did not release the full list of over 90 apps, only mentioning ‘PDF Reader & File Manager’ and ‘QR Reader & File Manager,’ which have been installed over 70,000 times.

It has been confirmed that these apps are no longer visible, as Google stated that all identified malicious apps have been removed. However, Android users who may have downloaded these apps are still at risk from the Anatsa malware.

Anatsa attacks are often hidden within practical tools like PDF or QR code readers available on Google Play Store. Once installed, these apps skillfully avoid detection and can steal personal financial information through seemingly safe updates.

How to Avoid Dangerous Apps That Drain Bank Accounts
The threat of dangerous apps is alarming, as in early 2024, Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) Task Force for Illegal Financial Activities (Satgas PASTI) revealed a new scam modus called impersonation.

This involves mimicking or duplicating the name of official websites or social media accounts to deceive the public. The task force has recorded over 100 reports of such cases. Here are some steps to avoid these apps:

  1. Do Not Install Untrusted Apps
    Avoid all unofficial apps or additional tools like fake loan apps and document readers. Most malware-infected apps originate from illegal banking or are among the most searched-for apps, like document readers.

Fake loan apps generally promise quick and flexible loans. They entice victims by promoting low-interest rates and easy requirements, pushing them to download the app and fill in their personal and financial information.

  1. Check New Apps You’ve Downloaded
    When downloading new apps, pay attention to the permissions they request. Dangerous apps often demand access to more apps or permissions than necessary.

For instance, a flashlight app doesn’t need access to your contacts or Android accessibility services.

It’s also important to keep your phone secure by installing updates as soon as they’re available, as malware often targets outdated apps.

  1. Activate Google Play Protect
    Using Google Play Protect is highly recommended for Android users. It can automatically remove or disable known malware-containing apps on devices with Google Play Services.
  2. Report to Relevant Authorities
    Satgas PASTI encourages the public to report suspicious or potentially illegal investment offers and online loans to the OJK Contact Center. You can reach them via telephone at 157, WhatsApp (081157157157), or email at konsumen@ojk.go.id or satgaspasti@ojk.go.id.

Stay cautious while using your devices, and hopefully, this helps!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *