The Top Selling Android App In The Google Play Store Was Allegedly A 'Scam'

Google Play Store/Android PoliceAndroid Police was able to screengrab the app before it got taken down.

Virus Shield, an app that was No.1 on Google Play's paid download charts, is a scam, according to Michael Crider at Android Police.

Virus Shield was a $3.99 app that promised it could protect your phone from harmful spyware and malware invading your device.

It also claimed it would have battery life improvements and "no pesky advertisements."

Despite having over 10,000 downloads and multiple high ratings, the app didn't work, Crider says. Android Police writes that it was just a fake: All Virus Shield did was switch from a red "X" image to a "√" check image with a single tap.

Android Police points out that Deviant Solutions (the alleged developers behind the app) don't have an official website in the Play Store and people on Google+ have complained about Virus Shield as well.

Google took down the app earlier this morning. Google Play has struggled with malicious apps lately. Last week, two Android apps were discovered to be abusing unwitting users' phones to mine dogecoin and Litecoin.

Google doesn't police its app store but it does offer a way for customers to complain about inappropriate or sketchy programs.