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Surge in fake apps

By Dana Fowle
Published  November 14, 2016 4:44pm EST
News
FOX 5 Atlanta

ATLANTA - You're not the only one getting excited about the holidays and gift buying, so are scammers.

We spend money this time of year. That's a fact. And it's also true that more than just retailers want a piece of your paycheck. Let's block them. And let's start by looking at your phone.

According to Branding Brand, a group that takes a look at these apps. There's one that looks like it's from Dillard's, Big Lots, Payless, and many more. Well, guess what? They're fake. These apps are not associated with these brands

A company that keeps an eye on retailer trends caught something very unusual happening. Back in September, Branding Brand found that fake apps designed to steal your identity, and to put malware onto your smartphones, were  showing up on both Androids and iPhones.  Lots. All at once.

So how do you know if you have one on your phone? Branding Brand offers six ways to check.

6 Quick Checks for Spotting a Fake

  1. Who publishes the app? Not associated with the brand? Delete.
  2. Scrutinize the name. Does it make sense? If not, delete.
  3. Typos are a clear signal to delete.
  4. Too many bad reviews? Delete
  5. Check developer website. Not associated with the brand? Delete. 
  6. Does the developer make many unrelated apps? Delete.

Even though Apple and Google are taking these bad apps off of their sites, they still might be on your phone. They can't take that off for you. So you must delete it. And if you've used one that is fake, personally, I'd ask  for a replacement credit card for the one that is attached to your smartphone app store.

Now, many of you will shop online and the US Chamber of Commerce warns to be careful about buying fake items. If the price is crazy low, it could be a fake. If you're unfamiliar with the seller, use caution. When you buy something inspect it thoroughly. Check the workmanship. Check it against a real one. Check for misspelled words. Do your homework.

Over the holidays, pay with a credit card for big ticket items or gifts online. If it's a scam, you can dispute it through the credit card.