Fake Spotify Premium App Subscription Trap Scam
Lookalike Spotify apps in mobile app stores enroll users in expensive recurring subscriptions using Spotify's branding, while the official Spotify app is free to download and manages its own subscription in-app.
Part of: App Store Subscription Trap Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
The official Spotify app is published on the App Store and Google Play by Spotify AB and is free to download. Spotify Premium subscriptions are purchased within the app or at spotify.com — not through a separate paid download.
Scammers publish apps with names like 'Spotify Music Premium,' 'Spotify Pro Downloader,' or 'Spotify Offline Player' that charge a weekly subscription fee using Spotify's recognisable logo and green colour scheme. Users who believe they are subscribing to real Spotify Premium through one of these apps receive no Spotify service while paying recurring charges.
A secondary harm is credential theft: some of these apps present a fake Spotify login form to capture account credentials, which are then used for account takeover or sold.
How this scam works on the Spotify brand
A user searching for Spotify on an app store sees multiple results. One listing, 'Spotify Music Premium Player,' has a green logo very similar to Spotify's and claims to offer offline playback for a $4.99 weekly subscription — considerably less than a monthly Spotify plan. After installing and subscribing, the app provides generic music or nothing at all.
The subscription continues to charge weekly until the user actively cancels it through their App Store or Google Play subscription settings. Because the app was installed on a device used by multiple family members, the charges may go unnoticed for several months.
In a more sophisticated variant, the fake app presents a 'Sign in with Spotify' screen at launch. This is not an official Spotify OAuth integration — it is a webview that captures the username and password typed into a form styled to look like Spotify's login page.
Common red flags
- The official Spotify app is published by 'Spotify AB' in the App Store and Google Play — verify the developer name before downloading.
- Spotify is free to download — any app charging an upfront or subscription fee for Spotify Premium that is not the official Spotify app is fraudulent.
- A 'Sign in with Spotify' prompt inside a third-party app that asks for your username and password in a webview is not an official Spotify OAuth integration.
- Pricing that undercuts Spotify's published rates for the same tier is a red flag.
- The app does not allow you to access your real Spotify playlists, saved songs, or listening history.
- Reviews reference the subscription charges rather than the music experience.
How to protect yourself
- Download Spotify only from the official listing — search 'Spotify' in the App Store or Google Play and verify the developer is Spotify AB.
- Subscribe to Spotify Premium through the official app or at spotify.com, not through a third-party app.
- If you subscribed to a fraudulent app, cancel immediately in your device's subscription settings and report the app to the store.
- If you entered Spotify credentials in a fake app, change your Spotify password at spotify.com/account immediately.
- Review your subscription list in your App Store or Google Play account periodically to catch unrecognised charges.
How to report it
- Report the fraudulent app using the App Store 'Report a Problem' or Google Play 'Flag as inappropriate' option.
- Report to Spotify at [email protected].
- Report financial losses to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- UK users: report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Spotify Premium for less than the official price through any legitimate app?
Spotify occasionally offers discounted trials through authorised promotions on its own website or app. Any third-party app claiming to offer Spotify Premium at a lower price is not a legitimate Spotify product.
How do I cancel a subscription I accidentally signed up for in a fake Spotify app?
On iPhone: Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > find the app > Cancel. On Android: Google Play > Profile > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions > find the app > Cancel. Then dispute any charges with your card issuer if needed.
Does Spotify offer an offline playback feature?
Yes — Spotify Premium subscribers can download songs for offline listening within the official Spotify app. There is no need to download a separate app for offline playback.