Google bans 180 apps from Play Store over links to widespread fraud scheme

Google has removed 180 apps from its Play Store after discovering they were part of a widespread ad fraud scheme, marking one of the largest actions taken by the tech giant to tackle deceptive advertising practices.

The apps, which were downloaded millions of times across the globe, were found to be involved in fraudulent activities designed to generate illicit ad revenue.

Google’s crackdown follows an investigation into how these apps manipulated ad networks and spyware to artificially inflate clicks and impressions, a practice known as ad fraud.

The fraudulent apps were largely categorised under games, photo-editing, and utility applications.

They all employed sophisticated techniques to trick advertisers into paying for fake interactions. These deceptive tactics included forcing users to watch ads by disguising them as legitimate content or embedding ads in a way that made them unclickable but still counted toward advertiser payments.

The discovery was made after a routine investigation by Google’s security team in collaboration with third-party cybersecurity experts.

According to Google’s Play Store policy enforcement team, these apps violated multiple rules around ad content and transparency.

"We take ad fraud very seriously and will continue to invest in technology to ensure the integrity of our platform," said Google in a statement.

"We have removed these apps from the Play Store and will be working with advertisers to ensure they are not affected by these fraudulent schemes."

Uninstall apps

Once the fraud was detected, Google removed all 180 apps from the Play Store, which were previously available for download. Google advised users who had already downloaded the apps to uninstall them immediately.

The apps had garnered millions of downloads, with some of them still actively generating fraudulent clicks and impressions even after being flagged.

Google has also started reaching out to developers, warning them about the consequences of engaging in such schemes and offering resources to help improve their ad monetisation practices.

In some cases, the apps would also generate fake interactions by running hidden background activities, such as pushing invisible ads to users or encouraging accidental clicks.

As part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard users and advertisers, Google is expected to increase its use of machine learning and AI to detect and block fraudulent activities more quickly.

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The company has also pledged to enhance its app review processes to identify and prevent future violations before apps are published on the platform.

While the 180 banned apps have been removed from the Play Store, the falling-out from this scandal serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in the digital advertising ecosystem.

"Ad fraud is a significant issue, and this action sends a strong message to developers about the consequences of fraudulent behaviour," said Google.

"We will continue to take action to ensure a safe and trustworthy environment for both users and advertisers."