Caution: Fake ‘DigiLocker’ apps spotted on Google Play Store

Last year, the Indian government launched the much awaited DigiLocker mobile app to provide Indian citizens a secure personal digital space to store their important documents. However, the app, one of Digital India’s key initiatives for paperless governance is in news these days for wrong reasons.

Recently, many fake apps have been spotted on Google Play that pose to be the DigiLocker app issued by the government. With identical names, these fraudulent apps capitalize on ignorance of some users. These apps look authentic, and also use PM Modi’s photo and the Indian national emblem.

To put things in perspective, DigiLocker is only available for Android users at the moment, and has been downloaded close to 5 lakh times. The fake DigiLocker apps have been downloaded between 10,000 and 50,000 times, so a user needs to make sure they are downloading the genuine app. In order to be sure, check the developer name when downloading DigiLocker; the developer in this case is MeITY, Government of India. Any other developer name is basically a fake app.

Although Google constantly works on filtering the fake apps, it takes a while before they are spotted and recognized by Google Bouncer. In turn, before they are pulled down, they successfully confuse many users and trick them into installing their apps.

DigiLocker aims to eliminate use of physical documents, and allow users to access them anywhere, anytime. These documents can also be shared online, and avoid forgery. The app recently allowed the integration of driving license and car registration certificates with the DigiLocker. This will eliminate the need to carry paperwork while driving. These documents will be accessible through mobile devices, and will be as good as physical paperwork.