Latvian Firm Fined for Distributing Fake Smartphone Applications

A Latvian firm has recently been fined EUR 61,467 (USD 77,055) for distributing fake smartphone applications online, mainly popular games such as Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, via Google Play, an online store for Android applications.

Once the smartphone users downloaded the fake applications, the cyber criminals received access to user’s phones and started charging premium features to their mobile phone bills. In addition to paying the fine, the Latvian company has been ordered to refund a total of EUR 34,867 (USD 43,710) to more than 1,000 mobile users who received unexpected bills.

Google has removed the fake applications from its store. As reported, Google does not check applications before they become available via Google Play, but they remove them if they violate Google’s policies.

Prepared by: Masa Lopicic

For more information, please contact mail@petosevic.com.

Source: BBC