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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.
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AhnLab ASEC published its 'Mobile Security & Malware Issue 4st Week of November, 2025' roundup, indicating coverage of Android malware themes including Hermes malware, smishing, APK-based distribution, GitHub, and the Google Play Store. The brief notice does not provide enough detail to confirm a separate RelayNFC event beyond broader mobile malware reporting.
Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs reported a new NFC relay attack campaign dubbed RelayNFC targeting users in Brazil. The operation uses phishing sites to distribute a malicious Android app posing as a payment-card security tool in order to capture victims' card data for fraudulent transactions.
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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.
Jul 12, 2026
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
New variants of **NFCShare** are targeting mobile banking customers across Europe through phishing sites and GitHub-hosted fake banking app updates that impersonate legitimate banks. Researchers said the campaign, first seen spoofing Deutsche Bank, has expanded to primarily target banking brands in **Italy and Spain**, with victims lured into installing malicious APKs after being told to enable apps from unknown sources or follow fake bank update prompts. Once installed, the malware abuses a phone’s **NFC** capability to trick victims into scanning their payment cards and entering their PINs, then exfiltrates the stolen card data and PINs to attacker-controlled infrastructure over **WebSocket** for potential NFC payment relay fraud. Investigators also reported that newer samples are rebuilt rapidly and use malformed APK packaging, including broken ZIP paths, to disrupt automated analysis and slow detection while preserving recognizable behaviors such as combined **WebView** and NFC activity.
Jul 12, 2026