Posted by Mumbai: Cybersecurity major Sophos, announced that it has uncovered multiple fake ChatGPT apps masquerading as legitimate, ChatGPT-based chatbots to overcharge users and bring in thousands of dollars a month.
These apps have popped up in both the Google Play and Apple App Store. Since the free versions have near-zero functionality and constant ads, they coerce unsuspecting users into signing up for a subscription that can cost hundreds of dollars a year, according to details mentioned in Sophos X-Ops’ latest report, “’FleeceGPT’ Mobile Apps Target AI-Curious to Rake in Cash.”
Fake ChatGPT Apps Scam
Scammers have and always will use the latest trends or technology to line their pockets and ChatGPT is no exception, according to Sean Gallagher, Sophos’ Principal Threat Researcher.
“With interest in AI and chatbots arguably at an all-time high, users are turning to the Apple App and Google Play stores to download anything that resembles ChatGPT. These types of scam apps—what Sophos has dubbed ‘fleeceware’—often bombard users with ads until they sign up for a subscription,” said Gallagher.
“These fake apps are banking on the fact that users won’t pay attention to the cost or simply forget that they have this subscription. They’re specifically designed so they may not get much use after the free trial ends, so users delete the app without realising they’re still on the hook for a monthly or weekly payment,” explained Gallagher.
In total, Sophos X-Ops investigated five of these fake ChatGPT fleeceware apps, all of which claimed to be based on ChatGPT’s algorithm. In some cases, as with the app “Chat GBT,” the developers played off the ChatGPT name to improve their app’s ranking in the Google Play or App Store.
While OpenAI offers the basic functionality of ChatGPT to users for free online, these apps were charging anything from $10 a month to $70 a year. The iOS version of “Chat GBT,” called Ask AI Assistant, charges $6 a week—or $312 a year—after the three-day free trial; it netted the developers $10,000 in March alone.
Another fleeceware-like app, called Genie, which encourages users to sign up for a $7 weekly or $70 annual subscription, brought in $1 million over the past month.
The key characteristics of so-called fleeceware apps, first discovered by Sophos in 2019, are overcharging users for functionality that is already free elsewhere, as well as using social engineering and coercive tactics to convince users to sign up for a recurring subscription payment.
These apps usually offer a free trial, but they flood users with ads and impose heavy restrictions, making them barely usable until users pay for a subscription. Developers often write and implement these apps poorly, so even the paid versions frequently function below expectations. They also inflate their app store ratings by generating fake reviews and repeatedly prompting users to rate the app—sometimes before they’ve even used it or finished the free trial.
“Fleeceware apps are specifically,designed to stay on the edge of, what’s allowed by Google and Apple in terms of service. They don’t flout the security or privacy rules, so they are hardly ever rejected by these stores during review,” pointed out Gallagher.
While Google and Apple have implemented new guidelines to curb fleeceware since Sophos reported on such apps in 2019, developers are finding ways around these policies, such as severely limiting app usage and functionality unless users pay up.
“Some of the ChatGPT fleeceware apps, included in this report have already been taken down, more continue to pop up—and it’s likely more will appear. The best protection is education. Users need to be aware that these apps exist and always be sure to read the fine print whenever hitting ‘subscribe.’ Users can also report apps to Apple and Google if they think the developers are using unethical means to profit,” said Gallagher.
In the report, all apps were reported to Apple and Google. For users who have already downloaded these apps, they should follow the App or Google Play store’s guidelines on how to “unsubscribe.” Simply deleting the fleeceware app will not void the subscription.