Why does my phone randomly play ads?

[Android Central Question]

I have a Galaxy J3 Emerge and recently, it's started playing ads, no matter if the phone is locked. There is no video to it, just the sound of the ad. Most of the time it's a Spectrum one besides one really long one that started when I was asleep. I did recently download Google Docs on my phone though I don't know why that would be it. I tried restarting it and it still does it. Help??

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! When you hear the audio, tap the Recent Apps button and see what apps might be open in RAM. See if the sound goes away if you swipe away the browser.

 

[Shawn B2]

Welcome to Android Central! When you hear the audio, tap the Recent Apps button and see what apps might be open in RAM. See if the sound goes away if you swipe away the browser.

I have EXACTLY the same problem on my pixel 2 and it is also spectrum ads that play. I click recent apps when playing and nothing appears. I went as far as uninstalling my spectrum app thinking that was it, but it has unfortunately happened since uninstalling. I can't figure out what app would be causing this to happen.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Which Spectrum app is it? My Spectrum? Spectrum TV? I'd send an email to the developer and ask if they're aware of this issue.

 

[blairwitch9609]

This is happening on my phone also. Started last week. I've run 360 and Malware Bytes. Nothing.
I have Spectrum Internet... Does anyone else?
I don't have the Spectrum App on my phone, haven't downloaded anything new. When the ad starts randomly, I close each running app... And it just keeps playing.
Ugh

 

[B. Diddy]

In addition to sending an email to the Charter/Spectrum app developers, I'd also contact their customer service by phone and complain. It sounds like this is more than just one or two isolated incidents. If a cable/internet provider is pulling this kind of nonsense, they need to stop ASAP.

 

[Kimcevans2018]

The same is happening on my phone, over the past 2 weeks it's beginning to get really annoying, I'm tempted to do a factory reset! What email do we complain or report this to?

 

[Canyoner]

I've been getting the same on my S7 phone. All since some app upgrades about 1st half of May 2018.
The ads play randomly, but usually when the phone has not been used for an hour or so.
The other more annoying issue I've had from the same time is Google Ads - Google Home Mini, & various Google Play Store apps keep popping up when the phone is woken after about 15 min of more of inactivity. I have to clear them to get to my home screen.
I've run several anti virus/malware scans (Malwarebytes, AVG, etc) & nothing found. Disabled all the Google Play apps, etc & still get them.

 

[Canyoner]

OK. I found one way to stop the ads on my S7...

Disable Google Play Store!!

I no longer get the annoying ads... BUT, several other apps now keep leaving notes... 'xxx won't run unless you update Google Play Store.'
Tough titties Google! If you can't run a system without pushing ads forget it!
If I enable Google Play Store I then get random ads for Uber, Google Play Store, Google Home Mini, Wish, Mark Logic & Zoosk, etc... Some of which are video with sound... EXTREMELY annoying whilst in a meeting!