DJI Fly scam ALERT!

Chris Westland

I've posted this over at Reddit as well, but wanted to alert the community to a new-old scam. I downloaded the DJI Fly app from the Google Play Store yesterday (8-6-2023) and unfortunately opted to get the "3-day trial" which supposedly charged Google Pay $39.99. I can't seem to find the transaction, and I notice that the app isn't on the Play Store today. So I'm guessing that the scammers are pushing this out to Google on a regular basis, and Google is catching it. I presume it's a scam to get my Google Pay information. I don't see any transactions but will keep looking. Anyway, be careful. These guys are out there and are pretty resourceful. BTW, their app does work with my DJI Mavic Air 2 so maybe it's someone inside DJI who has access to their codebase.

LV_Forestry

https://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=295183&extra=page%3D1
Just download the SDK kit to create an app. Anyone can do it. Not necessarily someone from DJI.

dreamtuner

Why did you get the Fly app from the play store in the first place? It has been removed from the play store well over 2 years ago now.

LV_Forestry

dreamtuner Posted at 8-7 05:37
Why did you get the Fly app from the play store in the first place? It has been removed from the play store well over 2 years ago now.

New users, as well as very many old users do not know this information. The reflex is to look for the apps on the Play Store, and this is completely normal.

In this case the scammers were very inventive because they copied the DJI name to the publisher. Usually this kind of app has a random name.

Chris Westland

LV_Forestry Posted at 8-7 06:15
New users, as well as very many old users do not know this information. The reflex is to look for the apps on the Play Store, and this is completely normal.

In this case the scammers were very inventive because they copied the DJI name to the publisher. Usually this kind of app has a random name.

I haven't had my drone out in about two years, so I naturally updated the DJI app from the PlayStore. It shouldn't have been up there, but apparently, the scammers are loading it up on the PlayStore when they get an opportunity. It was up there on Aug 6th, but it is not there today. I told Google Pay to reverse the charge, which they did. I now have the APK install from the DJI site. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

LV_Forestry

Chris Westland Posted at 8-7 07:21
I haven't had my drone out in about two years, so I naturally updated the DJI app from the PlayStore. It shouldn't have been up there, but apparently, the scammers are loading it up on the PlayStore when they get an opportunity. It was up there on Aug 6th, but it is not there today. I told Google Pay to reverse the charge, which they did. I now have the APK install from the DJI site. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

That is good to know that google is paying back. Maybe you could share the procedure for the refund request, on the thread that DJI opened on this subject?

https://forum.dji.com/forum.php? ... &extra=page%3D1

Chris Westland

LV_Forestry, I use Google Pay attached to a credit card for these sorts of payments. All you have to do is go to Google Pay --> login --> purchases --> manage purchases (in blue) Then select the transaction that you want to challenge, and tell Google the date, and why you think it is fraudulent. Google nearly always decides for the plaintiff (it definitely should in this case).

LV_Forestry

Chris Westland Posted at 8-7 10:55
LV_Forestry, I use Google Pay attached to a credit card for these sorts of payments. All you have to do is go to Google Pay --> login --> purchases --> manage purchases (in blue) Then select the transaction that you want to challenge, and tell Google the date, and why you think it is fraudulent. Google nearly always decides for the plaintiff (it definitely should in this case).

Thanks, i forward to the dedicated thread.

DJI Diana

Hi there! Thank you for reaching out, and we apologize for any trouble caused. This is definitely not the type of experience we wanted you to have. Please know that, after further confirmation with our concerned team, there are some imitated DJI Apps on the Play Store made by illegal individuals for fraud. Which may pose a risk to the property security of our users. In order to protect the rights and interests of our users, we have complained about this problem to the Play Store. As the brand owner, we will actively protect the rights and interests of our users. As a victim in such a case, we will also actively protect DJI's intellectual property rights. At the same time, we recommend that you download the App from DJI's official channels to ensure that you get a safe and reliable version. And here is the link to our official download center: https://www.dji.com/global/downloads. If you find such similar imitated apps, please do not click to download and contact us for assistance in time. We will try our best to protect your rights. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Chris Westland

DJI Diana Posted at 8-7 12:23
Hi there! Thank you for reaching out, and we apologize for any trouble caused. This is definitely not the type of experience we wanted you to have. Please know that, after further confirmation with our concerned team, there are some imitated DJI Apps on the Play Store made by illegal individuals for fraud. Which may pose a risk to the property security of our users. In order to protect the rights and interests of our users, we have complained about this problem to the Play Store. As the brand owner, we will actively protect the rights and interests of our users. As a victim in such a case, we will also actively protect DJI's intellectual property rights. At the same time, we recommend that you download the App from DJI's official channels to ensure that you get a safe and reliable version. And here is the link to our official download center: https://www.dji.com/global/downloads. If you find such similar imitated apps, please do not click to download and contact us for assistance in time. We will try our best to protect your rights. Thank you for your understanding and support.

I just got word from Google that they do not view this charge or this app as fraudulent (see attached charge) even though I fully explained what had happened to Google.

I think this is a point at which it would be good for DJI to jump in a complain to Google.  Basically Google is saying that any app that shows up on their Play store claiming to be an official app of DJI can have full authorization to bilk anyone with a Google Pay account.

This sort of behavior on Google's part is exceptionally damaging to DJI's reputation.  In the US, the first place that we typically go to find apps is the Google Play store.  Generally we would not know to go to the DJI site to get the official app. And Google has made it easy for any fly-by-night scammer to claim that they are DJI.  I think this open DJI up to lawsuits and huge reputational loss.

I am hoping (since I am a big fan of DJI and want to see them thrive in the future) that DJI pursues this abuse aggressively with Google.  Google has here, made a conscious decision to support online scams.

DJI Susan

Chris Westland Posted at 8-14 08:50
[view_image]

I just got word from Google that they do not view this charge or this app as fraudulent (see attached charge) even though I fully explained what had happened to Google.

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused, we have overlayed your feedback to the corresponding team.

Chris Westland

Thank you. Hopefully, something will come of this. At least, I think DJI will want to complain to Google about allowing fake apps onto their platform.

DJI Paladin

Chris Westland Posted at 8-18 05:16
Thank you. Hopefully, something will come of this. At least, I think DJI will want to complain to Google about allowing fake apps onto their platform.

You are most welcome. Rest assured that your concern will be forwarded to the team. We appreciate your valued support.