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You must delete these fake ChatGPT apps swindling users out of thousands of dollars every month

Updated: May 18, 2023, 7:02 PM

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Delete these fake ChatGPT apps that are swindling users of thousands of dollars each month

OpenAI's ChatGPT is the fastest-growing app in history, reaching 100 million active users in just two months. The company launched an app for Apple iPhone users just today and has said that an Android version is coming soon. Until today, the only way to access the technology on a smartphone was using Microsoft's Bing app. Bad actors used that opportunity to upload fake apps on Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store.

Cybersecurity company Sophos spotted multiple apps that duped users into thinking they were based on ChatGPT's language models. The apps are not malware, meaning they aren't harmful to smartphones and don't intend to gain unauthorized access. They are fleeceware, which are low-quality apps that deceptively get you to sign up for monthly or yearly subscriptions.

Fleeceware app ChatGBT

Sophos says the apps took advantage of policy loopholes to get into app stores. The free versions of these apps are as good as useless and they bombard users with constant ads to make them pay for functionality that's available for free online. Their developers rely on fake reviews to make them look like legitimate apps.

Fake reviews for fake ChatGPT apps hide legitimate negative review

Here are the fleeceware ChatGPT apps you need to remove:

Chat GBT: Its iOS version called Ask AI Assistant costs $6 a week and $312 a year after the end of the three-day free trial. Developers earned $10,000 in March alone
Genie: It charges $7 for a week and $70 for a year. Earned $1 million in April.
GAI Assistant: Paid version costs $6 a week. The free version has a daily limit of ten inputs. It earned its developers around $15,000 in March.
AI Chat GBT: €6.49 a month.
AI Chat - Chatbot AI Assistant: Tries to charge $8 for a week but the prompt can be bypassed
Genie AI Chatbot: $7 weekly or $70 yearly subscription. Brought in revenue of $700,000 last month.
AI Chatbot - Open Chat Writer: $6.99/month or $79.99/year

The apps claimed to be based on ChatGPT's algorithms

All the apps have been reported to Apple and Google and some have also been taken down. Users should also delete them but removing them alone won't be enough. You must also cancel your subscription otherwise you'll continue to be charged even after you get rid of them.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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You must delete these fake ChatGPT apps swindling users out of thousands of dollars every month

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