Fake Operator Apps in the Google Play Store

[MattPrice]

Recently I've been seeing more and more examples of affiliates placing apps in the Google Play store which are "fake" versions of our own Sky Bet App. The apps aren't a complete reworking of our own, or anything original, they're just an iframe or some kind of window into our mobile portal with affiliate tracking attached.

There's a Ladbrokes example here (if Google haven't removed it yet): https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...m.ww2908&hl=en

It's becoming more and more of problem for several reasons:

- It's Scamming for new accounts that's clearly against terms and conditions
- The apps are a bad representation of the product and brand
- They are hard to police due to Google Play store's policy of accepting apps without checks

Thought I'd post it here to give GPWA members a heads up on the problem as I'm certain affiliate managers don't want this kind of traffic and legitimate affiliate's will want to know what they're currently up against from those willing to flout the rules...

[pinkytoe]

Sneaky idea. Sneaky sneaky.

[universal4]

Any affiliate that does this should have their affiliate account suspended.

Just another form of the sneaky spam we all see every day that FRAUDULENTLY PRETENDS to come from Casino Support, and never defines that they are NOT the casino.

Rick
Universal4

Additional note added: Just think, if an app would ever be found to have a trojan in it, then anyone who got the trojan would immediately blame the Casino since they were mislead to think it was someone acting in an official capacity for the casino.

[TheGooner]

Thought I'd post it here to give GPWA members a heads up on the problem as I'm certain affiliate managers don't want this kind of traffic and legitimate affiliate's will want to know what they're currently up against from those willing to flout the rules...

I assume that the SkyBet approach is to cancel the affiliate account and report the app to Google Play Store?

[Renee]

I think the biggest problem is that the play store and apple store don't care much about reports. I've reported a few fake apps in the past and they haven't been taken down so reporting doesn't seem to do much.

[TheGooner]

Are you saying that you reported them for faking YOUR brands, and a breach of DCMA?
Or just reported a fake app as a consumer?

I'd expect Google / Apple to take business copyright seriously - unless they want to be sued for being complicit in the operation.

[Renee]

I reported an app that was posing as Casino Action but actually when you installed and opened it, it was one of the fortune lounge casinos.

Mentioned in my report that the app was not owned by the people who own the casino and that they are posing as a different casino etc. It is still in the store since I last checked.

[p.arena]

Yeah using the trademarks, logos and other items and impersonating the brand is against the T&C of most programs.
My concern is that if someone is doing these types of apps they may also have some other motive, e.g. collecting people's log in data by having a Username / Password area to for people to try and log in through the app as well. Whatever it is it doesn't appear to be good for operators, customers or affiliates.

[TheGooner]

Agreed P.Arena - ​that's my major concern with 3rd party apps too.

[MattPrice]

I assume that the SkyBet approach is to cancel the affiliate account and report the app to Google Play Store?

Yes, that's right, although sometimes it is harder than you might imagine to pinpoint who is responsible for an app. For instance, I've seen instances where multiple affiliate IDs are present in one app which in itself is confusing. Anyway, whenever we can find a clear culprit we will close the account.

Renee, recently I've found Google to be a lot more responsive. I assume you've got an email address to contact them about these kind of problems, but if not, let me know and I can drop you a message.

[coreen.starpartner]

After reading this thread I quickly scanned Google Play Store to see if I can find any fake casino versions of our casinos. Didn't find any. Thanks for the post. Will scan through it every week to see if anything pops up.