Fake MetaMask app download scams and how to avoid them
A fake MetaMask app looks like the real thing. It is not. It exists to steal your seed phrase and drain your wallets. These scams are common, persistent, and effective against people in a hurry.
Three main vectors deliver fake apps. Each exploits a different shortcut people take when they want to install something quickly.
Malicious Chrome extensions. A search for "MetaMask" in the Chrome Web Store returns multiple results. Most are fake. They use similar logos, similar names, and similar descriptions. The official MetaMask extension is published by the account "MetaMask" and has been installed by tens of millions of users. Anything with a low install count or a slightly different publisher name should be ignored. The extension requests frightening permissions once installed - read and change all data on websites you visit, access your browsing history. A legitimate wallet does not need any of this.
Counterfeit mobile apps in app stores. Both Google Play and the Apple App Store have hosted fake MetaMask apps at various times. Scammers use developer names like "MetaMask Official," "Metamask Wallet," or "Metamask Pro." They buy fake reviews to appear legitimate. The real MetaMask app for iOS is published by ConsenSys Software Inc. The real Android app is published by MetaMask. Install counts matter: the genuine app has millions of downloads. A fake will have a few hundred or a few thousand. Check the developer name. Check the review count against the install count. If the data looks off, the app is off.
Phishing sites that mimic the official download page. A search engine result or a social media ad takes you to a page that looks identical to metamask.io. The scam site is usually a typo-squatted domain - metamask-login.com, metamask-download.net, metamask.app. The page offers a download button that serves an installer containing malware. The malware can replace the extension in your browser, intercept clipboard content, or steal the seed phrase the moment you type it in. The only safe URL for downloads is metamask.io. Do not trust a link from an ad, a tweet, or a Discord message.
The credential theft mechanism is the same in all three cases. The fake app presents a "create wallet" or "import wallet" screen that asks for your seed phrase. A legitimate MetaMask app asks for a new password during setup and generates a seed phrase for you to back up. It never asks you to enter an existing seed phrase unless you chose "import wallet." Even then, the seed phrase stays on your device. Real MetaMask does not send your seed phrase to a server, does not show it in a pop-up, and does not require you to type it on a website. A fake app records the phrase you type and sends it to the scammer's server. The scammer then drains every wallet that phrase controls.
Verification checklist.
- Official download URL: metamask.io only. Check the address bar. Look for the lock icon. Do not rely on Google's result position.
- Developer name: on Chrome Web Store, "MetaMask." On iOS, "ConsenSys Software Inc." On Android, "MetaMask."
- Install count: millions, not hundreds or thousands. Compare the count on the store page against the number of reviews. A gap of one hundred reviews for a million-install app is plausible. A gap of zero reviews for a million-install app is suspicious.
- Permissions: a browser extension requesting access to all websites is a red flag. Genuine MetaMask requests site access only when you interact with a dApp.
- Seed phrase rule: never enter your seed phrase on a website. Never type it into a pop-up or a form. Do not copy and paste it into any interface that you did not open by installing the real app from the real store.
- Check before you install: search the developer name online. Look at recent complaints. Scammers are discovered and called out, often within hours.
If you have already installed a fake app and entered your seed phrase, move your funds to a new wallet immediately. The scammer may wait days or weeks before moving assets. Do not trust the compromised wallet for anything. Create a fresh wallet, generate a new seed phrase, and transfer everything you control to it.
No price prediction. No opinion on whether you should use MetaMask or not. The facts are simple: the fake apps exist, they work the same way every time, and the only defense is to verify before clicking download. As of August 31, 2026, no on-chain pair or activity was found for the hostname lingose.games - meaning no token or smart contract associated with this domain exists that could be verified. The advice here applies regardless.
Not financial advice. lingose.games publishes market data and general information about digital assets. Crypto assets are volatile and you can lose everything you put in. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold, and we make no price predictions.
Prices are sourced from third parties and may be delayed or wrong. Verify anything you intend to act on against a primary source.