---
title: "Fake Navigation Apps Trick Users into Paying for Free Google Maps"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2019-01-22T11:59:07+08:00"
updated: "2026-03-17T23:03:16.964Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/fake-navigation-apps-trick-users-into-paying-for-free-google-maps-137"
---

# Fake Navigation Apps Trick Users into Paying for Free Google Maps

An ESET engineer discovered 15 fake navigation apps that merely displayed ads and opened Google Maps. One even asked users to pay to remove ads, leaving them paying to access a free app.

## In brief

The fake navigation apps simply displayed ads and opened Google Maps; one charged users to remove ads. The January 2019 article reported that some had been removed while others remained available, and advised users to choose apps from well-known developers.

Malicious [apps](<http://app-development-hk.com>) can be extremely difficult to guard against! Researchers recently discovered another 15 fraudulent apps on the [Google Play Store](<http://apps-development-hong-kong.com>), with more than 50 million downloads. These supposedly [free navigation apps](<http://mobiledeveloperhongkong.com>) do nothing more than display ads and open [Google Maps](<http://hong-kong-apps-developer.com>) (Google Maps).

An ESET engineer recently posted on Twitter that he had discovered 15 fake [navigation apps](<http://webmobileapplicationdevelopment.com>). Most copied icons from legitimate navigation apps to make themselves look like feature-rich [navigation apps](<http://hong-kong-apps-developer.com>). In reality, they merely add a useless advertising layer between users and Google Maps, primarily to make money from embedded ads.

When users open these apps and tap functions such as driving, navigation, routes or “My Location,” the apps simply display ads or automatically open Google Maps. One [app](<http://apps-developer-hong-kong.com>) even asks users to “pay to remove ads.” Those who pay ultimately spend money just to use the already available [free Google Maps app](<http://mobileappdevelopmenthk.com>)。

He also found that these fake apps occupied some of the top recommended positions in the Play Store’s Maps & Navigation category, while legitimate, genuinely [feature-rich navigation apps](<http://app-developer-hongkong.com>) such as Sygic, TomTom and Waze were not recommended by the Play Store.

He has reported these issues to Google. At the time of writing, some of the problematic apps had been removed, but others remained available. Google has introduced artificial intelligence and machine-learning bots in the Play Store to weed out these problematic apps. However, the [Play Store](<http://hkmobiledeveloper.com>) contains more than two million apps, so some inevitably slip through. Users should maintain a healthy skepticism about the apps they download. The best approach is to choose apps from well-known developers whenever possible.

Original article URL: [https://bit.ly/2HcoViL](<https://bit.ly/2WgHLZE>)

## Frequently asked questions

### What did the fake navigation apps actually do?

They displayed ads or opened Google Maps when users tapped functions such as driving, navigation, routes or “My Location.” Their main purpose was to earn money from embedded ads.

### Why did some users end up paying for Google Maps?

One fake app asked users to pay to remove ads. Those users ultimately paid to access Google Maps, which was already available for free.

### How did these apps appear legitimate?

Most copied icons from legitimate navigation apps to look feature-rich. The engineer also found them among the top recommendations in the Play Store’s Maps & Navigation category.

### Had Google removed all the reported apps?

According to the January 2019 article, some had been removed after the engineer reported them to Google, but others remained available.

### What did the article advise users to do?

It advised users to be skeptical about the apps they downloaded and to choose apps from well-known developers whenever possible.