Google Chrome Puts The Hurt On Mobile Subscription Scams
By: Jim Stickley and Tina Davis
February 5, 2019
With over 5 billion smartphone owners expected worldwide in 2019, mobile subscription scammers received some very bad news. Google announced a new feature to help stop mobile subscription scams with their Chrome 71 browser. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports over half of their complaints are about unwanted calls. The FCC also states that in 2016 alone, US residents received close to 2.4 billion unwanted automated calls every month. It’s safe to assume many of those 2.4 billion calls used voice phishing, or vishing. With Google Chrome’s 71, it’s clear they are taking a huge bite out of mobile subscription scams, otherwise known as smishing (phishing via SMS/text messaging).
In December, Chrome 71 browser made its debut on computers and mobile devices worldwide. At the heart of the improvement is making users instantly aware when a mobile subscription scam is ready to pounce. More specifically, Google says mobile billing services will be targeted. These billing services place added charges on a user’s monthly bill without their consent or knowledge.
The methods for mobile subscription scamming are many. In one case, receiving a text saying you can win a prize by answering a few questions. That is the start of texting back and forth to get questions and send answers. The user is unknowingly being charged exorbitant rates for each question asked and answered. Unless the user carefully checks their monthly bill, they will be none the wiser to the extra charges. PS. There was never a prize to begin with. So always be aware when receiving unexpected texts. Don't just assume they are safe. As with phishing, if you aren't expecting it, expect it to be phishing.
When a site asks for your phone number, you then signed up for a mobile subscription that’s billed through your carrier; often unknowingly. And when a site doesn’t make it clear that a user is signing up for a mobile subscription, that’s when Chrome 71 gets to work. Chrome 71 browser will pop up a full-screen warning when they believe a mobile subscription scam is about to launch. To keep legitimate developers from getting caught up in Chrome 71 scams, they have created a set of best practices for mobile billing. Overall, developers are expected to make clear the actual cost with a simple and straightforward fee structure; all billing needs to be visible and obvious to users. Should those best practices be ignored, Google first notifies webmasters in Search Control about the potential scam. Next, a warning pops up on the user’s screen, alerting them to the danger of a scam. Should users still want to continue with the site, there is an opt-out available.
There clearly is no shortage of mobile subscription scamming, but it’s a good thing to know that Google Chrome 71 has your back. So make sure you update your Google Chrome app on your smart device. In some cases, that means that all you have to do is relaunch it.