Fakecall Malware: You will dial the bank’s number and scammers will call you.

New Delhi. Now a deadly malware has emerged as a big threat for Android users. The specialty of this malware named ‘FakeCall’ is that it monitors the bank calls of the users. When the user dials the bank number, it redirects the call to scammers. Scammers then pose as bank representatives and obtain information related to the user’s bank account and empty the account. A new and more deadly version of this malware, discovered by Kaspersky in 2022, has now emerged. It has been recently updated, making it capable of controlling the smartphone remotely.

According to the report of cyber security firm Zimperium, this new version uses ‘Vishing’ technique. In Vishing, people are tricked into sharing sensitive information like their credit card numbers, login credentials and banking details with the help of fake phone calls or voice messages. Experts advise to avoid downloading apps from any unverified sources other than Google Play Store to protect yourself from FakeCall. Additionally, reboot your phone every week and scan the device with antivirus software.

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This is how it gets into the phone
This malware activates when an Android user downloads and installs a suspicious APK file or an app from an unverified source. FakeCall then asks the user for permission to make itself the default dialer app. Once permission is granted, this malware takes complete control of the device using the accessibility service and starts monitoring all incoming and outgoing calls.

calls redirect
If a mobile phone user calls his bank, this malware redirects that call to cyber criminals. The criminals then ask for sensitive information like OTP and password so that they can steal money from the bank account. FakeCall is so dangerous that it can record your screen, take screenshots, unlock the device and even turn off the auto-lock feature.

Very difficult to find out
FakeCall is also difficult to detect because it uses a fake user interface that looks exactly like the real Android call interface. According to reports, this malware is spreading through websites that impersonate Google Play Store. According to Zimperium, 13 apps spreading this malware have been detected, but their names have not been revealed yet.

Tag: cyber attack, Mobile phone, technical Bulletin