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Security researchers have identified a surge in Android malware that abuses Near Field Communication (NFC) and Host Card Emulation (HCE) features to steal payment data and conduct fraudulent transactions. Since April 2024, over 760 malicious apps have been detected, with campaigns expanding from isolated incidents to a global threat affecting users in Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Brazil, and other countries. These apps impersonate trusted financial institutions and government services, including the Central Bank of Russia, Gosuslugi, Santander, and VTB Bank, to deceive users into installing them and setting them as the default payment method.
Once installed, the malware activates NFC relay functionality, capturing card data in real time and forwarding it to attacker-controlled servers. The operation is coordinated through more than 70 command-and-control servers and numerous Telegram bots, enabling attackers to use one infected device to collect payment data and another to complete fraudulent transactions at physical terminals. The rapid proliferation and sophistication of these attacks highlight the growing risk to mobile payment systems and the need for increased vigilance among Android users and financial institutions.
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2 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
Follow-up reporting characterized the campaign as a massive surge in NFC relay malware activity affecting Europeans' credit cards, reinforcing that the threat had expanded in scale and impact. This represented an escalation in public understanding of the scope of the activity.
Security reporting and research published in late October 2025 described a growing wave of Android NFC relay malware used to relay or clone tap-to-pay transactions and steal payment card data, with victims reported in Europe. The coverage framed the activity as an emerging mobile threat trend rather than a single isolated incident.
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Researchers have identified a surge in Android malware abusing Near-Field Communication (NFC) and Host Card Emulation (HCE) to steal payment data and facilitate unauthorized transactions. Over 760 malicious apps have been discovered targeting banks, payment services, and government portals worldwide, including institutions in Russia, Europe, and Brazil. These apps often impersonate trusted organizations, urging users to set them as default NFC payment handlers, and exfiltrate sensitive EMV card data—such as device IDs, card numbers, and expiry dates—via Telegram channels. Attackers remotely control the apps through command-and-control servers, enabling them to relay card terminal requests, provide PINs, and execute fraudulent transactions with minimal user interaction. The rapid adoption of "Tap-to-Pay" has made NFC a lucrative target, with over 70 C2 servers and dozens of Telegram bots coordinating attacks against more than 20 global institutions since April 2024. CERT Polska has specifically analyzed the NGate malware campaign, which employs NFC relay attacks to enable unauthorized ATM withdrawals using victims’ own payment cards. Victims are lured through phishing messages and social engineering phone calls, convincing them to install a malicious Android app and verify their payment card by tapping it against their phone and entering their PIN. The app captures the NFC exchanges and PIN, relaying this data to an attacker-controlled device at an ATM, allowing criminals to withdraw cash without physical access to the card. The malware registers itself as an HCE payment service and conceals its C2 infrastructure within encrypted assets, complicating detection and response efforts.
Jul 12, 2026
A new malware campaign dubbed **RelayNFC** has been uncovered in Brazil, targeting users through phishing sites that distribute a malicious app masquerading as a payment card security tool. The app, once installed, captures victims' card details and enables attackers to conduct fraudulent transactions by relaying card data in real time, effectively mimicking the physical presence of the card. The malware is notable for its lightweight, evasive design, utilizing a Hermes-compiled payload and a JavaScript engine to remain undetected by security tools, with zero detections reported on VirusTotal at the time of discovery. The campaign reflects a broader trend of NFC-based attacks, with other malware strains such as Ngate and SuperCardX also exploiting NFC capabilities for financial fraud. The use of phishing as the primary distribution method highlights the importance of user vigilance and the need for robust device-level protections. Financial institutions are advised to strengthen monitoring and detection mechanisms to address the evolving threat landscape posed by sophisticated NFC relay malware like RelayNFC.
Jun 29, 2026
Multiple new Android malware campaigns have been identified targeting users' financial data and payment methods. Researchers uncovered advanced banking trojans such as BankBot-YNRK and DeliveryRAT, which harvest sensitive information from compromised devices and employ sophisticated evasion techniques, including emulator detection and device-specific targeting. These trojans often masquerade as legitimate apps, such as Indonesia's digital ID application, and can mute device notifications to avoid detection by victims. In addition, a next-generation Android banking trojan has been observed hiding within digital ID apps, automating the theft of cryptocurrency wallets and evading analysis environments. A separate large-scale scam involves over 760 malicious Android apps exploiting NFC and HCE technologies to steal payment card data globally. These apps facilitate unauthorized transactions by leveraging contactless payment features. The surge in Android-targeted financial malware highlights the growing risk to users' banking credentials, payment cards, and cryptocurrency assets, with attackers employing increasingly sophisticated methods to bypass security controls and evade user awareness.
Jun 29, 2026