A newly evolved version of the FakeCall malware, a dangerous Android banking trojan, has been discovered hijacking users’ outgoing calls to their financial institutions, redirecting them to phone numbers controlled by attackers. The malware, first identified by Kaspersky in April 2022, focuses on voice phishing (vishing) scams, tricking victims into revealing sensitive banking information. 

The trojan presents a fake call interface that closely mimics Android’s default dialer, convincing victims they are communicating with legitimate bank representatives. 

This makes it challenging for users to discern the deception. When attempting to call their bank, the malware secretly redirects the call to attackers, who impersonate bank officials to steal personal information and money from accounts. A new report from Zimperium reveals that the latest FakeCall variant further enhances its capabilities. 

By tricking users into setting it as the default call handler during installation, the malware gains the ability to intercept both incoming and outgoing calls. In addition, the malware manipulates the Android user interface to show the bank’s actual phone number while connecting the victim to a scammer, deepening the illusion of legitimacy. The updated malware also adds new, though still developing, functionalities. 

It now uses Android’s Accessibility Service to simulate user actions, control the dialer interface, and automatically grant itself permissions. FakeCall’s operators have also introduced a Bluetooth listener and a screen state monitor, indicating ongoing development toward more advanced attack methods. Additional commands integrated into the latest version include capturing live screen content, taking screenshots, and accessing or deleting device images. 

These upgrades demonstrate the malware’s evolving sophistication, as it becomes harder to detect and remove. Security experts recommend avoiding the manual installation of Android apps through APKs, encouraging users to rely on the Google Play Store for app downloads. Though malware can still infiltrate Google Play, the platform’s security measures, such as Google Play Protect, can help identify and remove malicious apps when detected.