Counterfeit shopping apps mimic the real shopping apps provided by well-known stores. These fake apps provide an entire shopping experience, complete with a final credit card transaction and an order confirmation number. No merchandise is ever delivered, and smartphone scammers now have your private information — including your credit card information!
One in 10 apps advertising holiday sales and deals are reported to be fraudulent according to the researchers at Cybersecurity Risk IQ. With a 33% increase of phone and tablet app shopping, consumers need to be aware of the counterfeits.
Last week the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi issued a report that stated that Google Play, AppChina, and Baidu were the app stores with the highest amount of counterfeit apps. Footlocker, Nordstrom, Zappos.com, and Christian Dior are among the targets for which scammers have created counterfeit apps.
Don’t let the ease of mobile shopping turn into a hassle! The safest way to download your favorite store’s shopping app is to go to their mobile site and follow the link to their app:
The safest way to download your favorite store’s shopping app is to go to their mobile website and sign in or download their shopping app.
