Fake banking apps are now a regular part of most phishing scams. They are designed to look like your bank’s real app, copy its logo and colour scheme, and then quietly steal passwords, OTPs and account numbers. You may see them in search results, on shady app stores, inside scam SMS links or even in social media ads. The safest approach is to pause before you tap “Install” and run a few quick checks.

Check the publisher’s name carefully

The most reliable signal is the publisher name on the Play Store or App Store. Genuine banking apps are published in the bank’s own name, such as “HDFC Bank Ltd”, “State Bank of India” or “ICICI Bank Ltd”. Fake apps often tweak this slightly: missing “Ltd”, adding an extra word like “pro”, or using vague names such as “Secure Mobile Banking” or “Online Ba

See Full Page