The term fleeceware refers to an application that has hidden fees hidden behind it, usually, it’s a mobile app.
Since fleeceware does not attack user data or the integrity of an operating system, it is not classified as malware. Even so, fleeceware causes financial harm – the total damage done by fleeceware amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Learn more about fleeceware app scams, their harm, and who they target, as well as how to protect yourself.
What Is Fleeceware?
In comparison to viruses and trojans, fleeceware is less harmful but more tangible in that it takes the user’s money. A fleeceware app, for instance, is a paid app that provides the same functionality as a free app (such as a calculator or a torchlight). A free 7-day trial app that charges you for a full 1-year subscription the next day is fleeceware, too. Fleeceware is an app that uses dark patterns to hide its real price, overcharge you, sneak in payments that were only mentioned in the fine print, or lie about the payment schedule.
Cybersecurity experts would not consider such actions malicious, but they are not ethical behavior toward app users.
How Does Fleeceware Work?
There’s a lot of increase in fleeceware subscription scams. Hidden subscription fees are used to steal your money through fleeceware apps. Often they target young users (often kids), the elderly, or simply less tech-savvy users who are easily tricked into installing a paid app when there is a free alternative available.
Social media is also used to promote fleeceware apps, which lure users into installing them without reading the terms of service or payment schedules. The use of subscription-based fleeceware often takes some time (sometimes a year, but more often a month or a week) to hide charges among other bills and any recurring payments already attached to a credit card.
What Are Fleeceware Apps?
In general, fleeceware apps are classified as “entertainment and hobbies”. Photo editors and filters, virtual music instruments, tarot card readings, horoscopes, and all kinds of “fortune-telling” apps fall into this category. There are fleeceware apps that are utilities, such as PDF and EPUB readers, scanners, calculators, etc.
Their common characteristic is charging users excess fees at the wrong time or not on the schedule they initially promised – unleashing the full price of a yearly or monthly subscription within 24 hours of what’s supposed to be a free 3-day trial. As well as having an astounding number of positive reviews left by fake accounts, fleeceware apps usually have a high installation rate.
Fleeceware app examples for iOS:
- Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty
- Pixomatic – Background eraser
- Fortunescope: Palm Reader
- Life Palmistry – AI Palm & Tag
Fleeceware examples for Android are:
- Easysnap
- Astrofun
- VCUT
- Face X Play
- Filmigo
Here Are 3 Signs That You Are Being Scammed By Fleeceware
The number of increasing fleeceware app scams has led to many serious troubles for all device users. One should be aware of the app’s presence to get rid of it. How do you know if an app you are using is fleeceware? These are the three signs you should look for:
- Charges on your credit card that are unfamiliar, no matter how small.
- It’s likely that you were charged too much (or twice) for in-app purchases, especially if you contacted the app’s support and they didn’t respond.
- Even after unsubscribing from an app and deleting it, it continues to charge you subscription fees.
What’s The Best Way To Protect Yourself From Being Fleeced?
Many users don’t know how to cancel a fleeceware subscription, so the app keeps stealing their money. The majority of developers consider a user uninstalling their app before the end of a trial period as unsubscribing. In contrast, fleeceware developers don’t give up their source of income as quickly.
A fleeceware app can still take money from a user even if it has been uninstalled. The interesting thing about fleeceware is that you can’t unsubscribe from it that easily. Unsubscribing from the paid services may require you to do the following:
- Emailing a non-existent address will result in your letter being bounced back.
- If you try to call a landline number during some random working hours, either no one will answer, the line will be dead, or the call itself will result in an absurd phone bill.
- The letter will also never be delivered or returned to you after it is mailed via tracked/recommended snail mail.
- If you want to unsubscribe from a rogue weather app, you should travel internationally.
These are some of the ways that can help you to protect yourself while staying online.
How To Get Rid Of Fleeceware?
It’s not enough to delete fleeceware apps from your device – you’ll continue to be charged. Start by unsubscribing if the app allows it.
To Unsubscribe From An App Subscription On iOS:
- Open the App Store
- Tap your initials in the upper right corner
- Click on the Subscriptions menu
- Unsubscribe
To Unsubscribe From An App Subscription On Android:
- Go to the Google Play Store
- Tap the hamburger menu icon in the upper right corner
- Tap the Subscriptions menu to view and manage your signups
- Unsubscribe
You may need to contact your bank regarding the card set as the payment method in your profile if you are still getting charged after unsubscribing. Request the bank to block payment requests from this specific company or reissue the card. There aren’t all banks that offer this option, but it’s worth a shot to avoid reissuing the card. If you want to subscribe to suspicious paid apps in the future, you can use temporary or disposable virtual card numbers.
Conclusion
Despite being harmful to your finances, fleeceware is easy to fall prey to and very difficult to escape. Before installing any lesser-known app, make sure you do your research. It may be that the item you are seeking is not free – so make sure you check that as well before purchasing. Be sure to read not only five-star reviews but also one-star ones.
If you do need that paid app, remember to download it from official stores like Google Play or iTunes. For extra protection, consider using disposable virtual card numbers as your payment method.