Urgent Facebook scam warning issued to anyone using an iPhone or Android phone

Android and iPhone users have been issued with a warning after an abundance of mobile applications have been found to contain information stealing malware.

Facebook say that they have pinpointed more than 400 apps which appear to be stealing private login information from smartphone users - and to make matters worse, these dangerous applications have all been listed on either the official Google Play store of Apple App store.

This means that it's highly likely that the apps have been installed on a large number of devices worldwide.

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The Daily Express reports that the apps have managed to sneak onto both marketplaces by disguising themselves as popular services, such as photo editors, mobile games, or VPN services. Once installed, they set about accessing private data by suggesting that users link their social media accounts to be granted exclusive features.

Instead of giving benefits, these apps then gather highly personal data which can be user to hack accounts.

Facebook, explained: "When a person installs the malicious app, it may ask them to “Login With Facebook” before they are able to use its promised features. If they enter their credentials, the malware steals their username and password."

While Apple and Google have since removed all of the offending applications, they still may be found on third-party marketplaces - and anyone who has already downloaded them should delete them without delay.

In a newsroom post the social media giant said: "We identified more than 400 malicious Android and iOS apps this year that target people across the internet to steal their Facebook login information. We reported our findings to Apple and Google and are helping potentially impacted people to learn more about how to stay safe and secure their accounts."

If you are worried you can find the full list of applications here.

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