PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
A Latvian firm was fined after over 1,000 people were conned into buying fake versions of Angry Birds, Assassin’s Creed and Cut The Rope on Google Play (formally the Android Market).
The apps, which were uploaded to the site back in November, were designed to look like the free versions of the games, but instead of getting to actually play anything, unlucky users received SMS messages costing them £5 a time. These text messages were hidden meaning people were unaware of what was happening until they saw their phone bills.
As well as the £50,000 fine, the developer has been ordered to refund all affected users, rumoured to total an additional £28,000.
The scam only affected Android users, as unlike Apple and Blackberry, Google doesn’t check apps before they appear on Google Play. Possibly a decision that needs to be revised?
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