Fake apps mimic popular brands

More than 1,900 fake applications have impersonated well-known brands on the Google Play Store, with 450 of them detected in France. These apps were removed after being found to redirect users to advertisements and fraudulent subscriptions.

France ranks 19th in app fraud

According to McAfee, which reported the findings on October 15, 2026, the campaign named Android/RewaFake involved more than 4,200 detections in France. Globally, over 500,000 devices have been affected across more than 190 countries, with France ranking 19th, behind the United Kingdom.

Clones target missing services on Android

The fake apps mimic services like Netflix, PayPal, CapCut, and Xbox Game Pass, appearing unrelated but sharing the same code and server. They also target searches for services not available on Android, such as Siri, iMessage, and the App Store, offering fake versions on Google Play.

Young gamers are especially targeted

McAfee identified 37 clones of popular games and services among gamers, including Roblox, Minecraft, and GTA VI. These apps, which accumulated over 86,000 downloads, included a fake Roblox app with over 50,000 downloads labeled "all ages" on Google Play.

Apps trick users with embedded web pages

The clones bypass Play Store controls by acting as empty shells that redirect users to web addresses controlled by fraudsters. When launched, the apps open a web page in an embedded browsing window without an address bar, making it impossible for users to know which site they are on.

Fraudulent ads charge users high fees

The advertising spaces are sold to the highest bidder, including subscription scammers. During McAfee's tests, a "free" trial was charged up to $49.99 per month. A fake PayPal app, downloaded more than 10,000 times, opened a page without an address bar, making it a tool for phishing to steal usernames and bank details.

Google removes reported apps daily

Google has removed all the applications reported by McAfee, which estimates that the operators published 20 to 25 new ones each day. Users are advised to check the developer's name, avoid "guides" for existing services, and install banking apps only from official websites. It is also important to remember that Siri on Android does not exist.