Fake Android apps use Google Play Early Access to dodge reviews

Security firm Bitdefender published a recent analysis finding that deceptive developers are listing fake apps in Google Play’s Early Access program and driving downloads through external social media ads.

The pattern begins with advertising on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook. Ads promise PayPal or cryptocurrency payouts, gift cards, free spins or large jackpots. Users who install the apps do not receive the promised payments. Bitdefender wrote, “the application continues serving advertisement after advertisement, which is likely the intended use for the developers: to make money by showing ads to as many people as possible.”

Many adverts use deepfaked videos of athletes, actors or staged testimonials. Platforms remove some of those ads, but the campaigns are often relaunched and remain common, according to the researchers.

Two recurring titles identified in the analysis are Chicken Road, presented as a mini-game, and Ice Fishing, promoted as a live dealer casino. The listings frequently resemble casual games while operating as unregulated gambling-style products that prioritize ad displays over gameplay.

Developers exploit Google Search indexing and trademark recognition. Bitdefender found examples where an Early Access listing was uploaded under a well-known brand name, such as a Grand Theft Auto variant, and then renamed with AI-generated screenshots after the page was indexed so search traffic continued to point to the deceptive listing.

Bitdefender’s data indicate the practice is widespread: some developers appear multiple times across Early Access listings and several deceptive titles show thousands of installs. The researchers did not find evidence that these apps distribute malware and did not accuse the publishers of delivering malicious code. The report describes the activity as a misuse of the Early Access feature.

Google Play’s Early Access lets users try unreleased apps and provides direct feedback to developers. The program does not include public ratings or user reviews, so listings do not display inter-user recommendations or warnings.

Bitdefender advised users to treat ads promising cash or large free spins skeptically and to verify app details before installing. The report highlights the challenge platform operators face in policing coordinated advertising campaigns that funnel traffic to parts of app stores not subject to standard user review systems.