Warning As Google Play ‘Call History For Any Number’ Scam Cons Millions

InnovationCybersecurityWarning As Google Play ‘Call History For Any Number’ Scam Cons MillionsByDavey Winder,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst.Follow AuthorMay 10, 2026, 09:46am EDTMay 10, 2026, 09:46am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.CallPhantmon scam hits Google Play store.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe promise of being able to access a complete call history, including SMS and WhatsApp, for any given phone number proved just too tempting for millions of visitors to Google Play. A fraud campaign known as CallPhantom, which spread across a total of 28 Android apps, had a staggering 7.3 million downloads before Google eventually removed them from the Play Store. ForbesMy Password Has Been Stolen—What Happens Next?By Davey WinderCallPhantom Attackers Invaded Google Play Store To Scam Millions Of UsersGoogle has been very busy of late dealing with security problems. First, there was the small matter of some 127 security vulnerabilities uncovered in the Chrome web browser and patched in the 148.0.7778.96/97 update. And now, it has been confirmed that 28 Android apps have been removed from the Google Play Store following an investigation by researchers at ESET that revealed they were part of a fraudulent campaign called CallPhantom. Unlike other malicious Android campaigns involving malware-infected apps hitting Google Play, such as NoVoice which included 50 apps and totaled 2.3 million downloads before removal, CallPhantom did not rely upon malware. Instead, it leveraged the exploitation of human curiosity and an ugly urge to spy on the lives of others, combined with app-subscription fraud. The bait was an app, or 28, that promised to provide the ability to somehow view the call logs and SMS/WhatsApp history for any given phone number. “To unlock th...