ChatGPT took the limelight and got everyone curious when it arrived online and became an instant internet sensation. Scammers leveraged this popularity to build fake ChatGPT apps to dupe innocent people and steal away their precious data. If you suspect an app is offering fake ChatGPT services, we’ll help you with easy ways to reveal its identity. Read on as we discuss several ways to identify fake ChatGPT apps on iPhone and Android in this article.
How to Identify Fake ChatGPT Apps on iPhone and Android?
Before ChatGPT’s official app release on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, innumerable fake apps emerged claiming to run ChatGPT on mobile devices. Some demanded a subscription fee, while others stole precious user data for nefarious purposes. This situation hasn’t improved even after rigorous app inspection, risking your security. But fret not; we have crafted this list of several methods to help you identify a fake ChatGPT app in no time. Let’s get started.
Method 1 – Check App Reviews and Ratings
The first step to identifying a fake ChatGPT app is to check its user reviews and ratings. If you find abundant negative reviews with bad ratings, there’s a high possibility of something wrong with the app, which might result in a scam. Follow these steps to check an app review on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Note: Not all bad-rated apps are fraudulent, some might be performing really badly for the cause they’ve been developed for.
On Android
1. Open the suspected app on the Google Play Store and tap the rating to See all reviews.
2. Scroll down to read all reviews and experiences. If you see more negative reviews with a single-star rating, it is most likely a fake ChatGPT app.
On iOS
1. Browse the Apple App Store to open the app details.
2. Tap Ratings below the app logo to view all posted reviews. More negative reviews increase the possibility of a fake ChatGPT app.
Method 2 – Look for the Number of App Downloads
Another easy way to spot a fake ChatGPT app is to examine its total downloads. A higher number indicates a reliable/trustworthy app, while a smaller number might point to a fake or useless one. Here’s how you can check it.
On Android
1. Open your desired app in the Google Play Store and swipe the information slider to the left to view the number of downloads.
2. Alternatively, tap the Arrow next to ‘About this App‘ for more details.
3. Scroll to the bottom to view the total number of Downloads.
On iOS
Unlike Android, the Apple App Store doesn’t provide the download data information to users. You can, however, see an app’s popularity rank from the ‘Charts’ tab.
Method 3 – Examine App Permissions
Inspecting the permissions required by an app is a nifty trick to check whether a ChatGPT app is fake. It is probably fake if it demands file access or needs permission to read your contacts. The original ChatGPT app only requires permission to have complete network access. Follow these steps to check app permissions on the Play Store and App Store without installing it.
On Android
1. Open the suspected app in the Google Play Store and tap the Arrow next to the About This App section.
2. Scroll down to locate App Permissions and tap the See More link.
3. You can now view different permissions the app requires to run on your phone. If you spot a file access permission in this list, it might attempt to read or steal your data.
On iOS
1. Browse your desired app in the Apple App Store and scroll down to See Details related to App Privacy.
2. Next, scroll down to view the Data that the app uses to track you.
Method 4 – Check App Screenshots and Images
Scammers don’t pay attention to minute graphic details/quality and often copy other’s content to advertise and attract users. If you notice that a ChatGPT app screenshot on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store is low-quality or doesn’t meet the standard, it might be fake. Head to the respective app stores on your Android phone or iPhone and search the app to find its screenshots.
Method 5 – Investigate Other Published Apps From the Developer
Checking other apps published by a developer on the app store can help you build trust and verify credibility. Scammers usually don’t publish multiple apps as they get instantly blocked on the platform. So always check all published apps before downloading to avoid encountering fake ones. Follow these steps to check it on Android and iOS.
On Android
1. Open an app on the Google Play Store and tap the Developer Name below the app name.
2. Scroll down to view All Apps published by the Developer. If you notice an app that feels weird or scammy, the ChatGPT app you plan to install is fake.
On iOS
1. Open the suspicious app on the Apple App Store and tap Developer below the app name.
2. You can now view the list of all apps published by the Developer.
Method 6 – Check App Info Discrepancies
Grammatical and punctuation errors in app details are most common among fraudulent apps. If you see any app information that doesn’t seem relevant or feel copied, you’re probably looking at a fake ChatGPT app. Here’s how to check the app info on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
On Android
1. Open the app in the Google Play Store and tap the Arrow next to the About this app section.
2. Pay attention to the details and check for any existing grammatical errors or weird text. These errors often give out the true identity and motive behind an app.
On iOS
1. Browse your desired app in the Apple App Store and tap more next to the app details.
2. Inspect the provided text to find errors and anything that doesn’t sound related to the app.
Method 7 – Verify when the App was Last Updated
Fraudsters don’t generally update fake apps. Consequently, if a ChatGPT app hasn’t been updated in a long time, it has either been abandoned or contains malicious code to steal data. Follow these steps to check when an app was last updated on Android and iOS.
On Android
1. Visit the app’s Google Play Store listing and tap the Arrow next to the “About this App” section.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and locate ‘Updated on‘ to view the app’s last updated date and time. If it hasn’t been updated in a long time, developers have either abandoned it or it is fake.
On iOS
1. Browse the doubtful app on the Apple App Store and scroll down to open Version History.
2. If the app hasn’t been updated in a long time, it is likely to be a scam.
Method 8 – Inspect App Interface
The basic version of ChatGPT is completely free. Consequently, if a ChatGPT app demands a subscription to use its services, it might be fraudulent. Other indicators in an app’s interface, like too many advertisements or ‘pay to unlock features, ‘ point it to be a fake app. Ensure you do not provide any information to these apps and uninstall them immediately.
Method 9 – Ask Challenging and Complicated Questions
Lastly, you can type challenging and complicated prompts to verify that an app truly uses ChatGPT. If it doesn’t provide satisfactory or no responses, there is a high chance of it being a fake ChatGPT app. Victims have often reported getting no responses or paying for a subscription to the ChatGPT services, resulting in a scam.
FAQs
Q. How to Identify a Genuine ChatGPT App?
You can use various methods in this guide to identify a genuine ChatGPT app. Some easy indicators are app reviews, the number of downloads, permissions, app info details, and much more.
Q. Is There an Official ChatGPT App for Android and iOS?
Yes. OpenAI has launched its official ChatGPT app for both Android and iOS devices. Head to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to install it.
Wrapping Up
We hope you’ve learned to identify Fake ChatGPT apps on the Google Play and Apple App Store. If you found it useful, forward it to your colleagues and subscribe to GadgetsToUse for more informative explainers. Also, don’t forget to check the below links for trending ChatGPT articles.
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