Fighting"FleeceGPT"In a report, Sophos provided details about these multiple apps masquerading as legitimate, ChatGPT-based chatbots to overcharge users and bring in thousands of dollars a month.
These types of scam apps—what Sophos has dubbed 'fleeceware'—often bombard users with ads until they sign up for a subscription. They're 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 that they may not get much use after the free trial ends, so users delete the app without realizing they’re still on the hook for a monthly or weekly payment, he added.
Fleeceware apps are specifically designed to stay on the edge of what’s allowed by Google and Apple in terms of service, and they don't flout the security or privacy rules, so they are hardly ever rejected by these stores during review. While Google and Apple have implemented new guidelines to curb fleeceware since we 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, Gallagher said.