Apple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data Harvesting

[MacRumors]

Apple removed scam app Freecash from the App Store this week after the app spent months harvesting data from iPhone users, reports TechCrunch.

Freecash reached the number two spot on the U.S. App Store charts in January after being heavily marketed on TikTok. It promised users up to $35 per hour for watching TikTok content, but it was collecting swaths of user data. Back in January, Wired covered Freecash's deceptive marketing, and MalwareBytes pointed out that the app was gathering data like race, religion, health, and biometrics, with extra data harvested through mobile games that Freecash pushed users to install.

Users tricked into downloading Freecash with the promise of free cash found that they could not earn money by using TikTok, but instead were able to earn tiny amounts of cash by playing games like Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire. The goal was to push users to make in-app purchases or watch paid ads in the apps. Freecash advertised itself as a platform for matching game developers with users likely to spend money in their games.

After the Wired report, TikTok pulled the Freecash ads, but Apple did not take action to remove the app. Freecash stayed in the App Store until TechCrunch contacted Apple on Monday, which is when Apple removed the app from the App Store. Apple said Freecash violated its guidelines prohibiting scam practices and misleading marketing.

Freecash parent company Almedia denied using deceptive marketing techniques and said it was in compliance with Apple's App Store rules.

Our apps are fully compliant with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store policies, as demonstrated by the fact that they are live and regularly pass platform reviews. We do not comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings.

Freecash was downloaded by 5.5 million people across the Apple App Store and Google Play in January 2026, and it has remained high on the App Store charts since then. In addition to using misleading TikTok ads, the app appears to have used bots and fake ratings to drive traffic. The app's developers may have also acquired an existing App Store app to get around Apple's app review system, as the Freecash app was banned at one point in 2024 before an existing App Store app was renamed Freecash and updated with the same functionality.

TechCrunch's full report has more information on Freecash and the scammy tactics the company behind the app used to lure in users.

Article Link: Apple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data Harvesting

 

[MacUserFella]

Surely the name “Freecash” should’ve been an immediate red flag

 

[63W]

These types of apps are most likely compensating the individuals responsible for their approval under the table, creating a corrupt vetting process from the very start.

Every individual who used the app, needs to file a class action lawsuit against Apple!

 

[Quu]

It also used your phones WiFi and 4G/5G as a type of VPN for residential / wireless proxy networks. Paid ones that get abused for scraping the web without being blocked etc

To do this their servers act as an intermediary and forward traffic through your device while their app is open and they charge "developers" who use their services $5 per GB to abuse your network connectivity and the clean IP address your device has from your carrier or home internet provider, trashing your IP in the process.

 

[63W]

It also used your phones WiFi and 4G/5G as a type of VPN for residential / wireless proxy networks. Paid ones that get abused for scraping the web without being blocked etc

To do this their servers act as an intermediary and forward traffic through your device while their app is open and they charge "developers" who use their services $5 per GB to abuse your network connectivity and the clean IP address your device has from your carrier or home internet provider, trashing your IP in the process.

Maybe im high at the moment... but I genuinely didn't understand what you have said. 😅

 

[artifex]

These types of apps are most likely compensating the individuals responsible for their approval under the table, creating a corrupt vetting process from the very start.

Every individual who used the app, needs to file a class action lawsuit against Apple!

I always assumed submissions and updates were assigned random reviewers each round, in which case what you're suggesting would be quite hard to pull off.

Nevertheless, this is a good reminder that Apple doesn't vet or follow up over time on promises, and the usual disclaimers about things sounding too good to be true still apply.

 

[kotaKat]

Okay, so Freecash gets pulled down, but why don't the other apps that obviously have partnered into Freecash get any kind of enforcement? Shouldn't Scopely face some kind of punishment with Monopoly Go? (And not ******** like getting to be 'Featured' on the 'Today' section of the App Store?)

They'll just spin to another platform to try to scam users into engagement with their own applications from within.

 

[Appleman3546]

Look at Apple not letting the free market decide again

 

[code-m]

Surely the name “Freecash” should’ve been an immediate red flag

From the people who brought your Siri and AI-Siri (coming soon) informs you that their AppStore is safe well their credibility is rolling in a stye along with pigs who cannot fly.

 

[antnythr]

Apple told me I was safe because they take money for in-app purchases. Why am I not protected from this kind of scam on the App Store?

 

[63W]

I always assumed submissions and updates were assigned random reviewers each round, in which case what you're suggesting would be quite hard to pull off.

Nevertheless, this is a good reminder that Apple doesn't vet or follow up over time on promises, and the usual disclaimers about things sounding too good to be true still apply.

I just found this post, which has interesting information.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheFounders/comments/1qm0ycs/former_apple_app_store_reviewer_10_years_happy_to

 

[code-m]

Apple told me I was safe because they take money for in-app purchases. Why am I not protected from this kind of scam on the App Store?

It’s safe to give Apple your money but nobody else. 😜

 

[code-m]

These types of apps are most likely compensating the individuals responsible for their approval under the table, creating a corrupt vetting process from the very start.

Every individual who used the app, needs to file a class action lawsuit against Apple!

Apple : Privacy*

*except for data harvesting apps we approved to be on our AppStore and didn’t take any action for close to a year.

 

[diblasio]

It’s still there, they just renamed it “Apple Maps”

 

[artifex]

It also used your phones WiFi and 4G/5G as a type of VPN for residential / wireless proxy networks. Paid ones that get abused for scraping the web without being blocked etc

To do this their servers act as an intermediary and forward traffic through your device while their app is open and they charge "developers" who use their services $5 per GB to abuse your network connectivity and the clean IP address your device has from your carrier or home internet provider, trashing your IP in the process.

Okay, this ought to be against the TOS, if not illegal. Just think about all the people who probably clicked through any disclaimers in order to try for a few coins to feed their f2p game habits, then forgot to remove the app when they gave up.

 

[artifex]

I just found this post, which has interesting information.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheFounders/comments/1qm0ycs/former_apple_app_store_reviewer_10_years_happy_to

That's enlightening. If it's a basic queue, then there probably is a way to jump in and manually grab stuff.

 

[tallPete]

Having the word Free in the name of the app breaks the app store rules. I too am surprised it lasted so long.

 

[code-m]

It’s still there, they just renamed it “Apple Maps”

Apple Maps + Ads

Or was it the late Jobs “iAds” 🤔

 

[aidler]

Instead of investing in its App Store to make it the best and most secure store, which, face it, it isn't, Apple wastes its money on lawyers to defend its untenable position that the iOS "App Store" can be the only App Store on iOS.🤦‍♂️

 

[63W]

That's enlightening. If it's a basic queue, then there probably is a way to jump in and manually grab stuff.

Not just that, Freecash app wasn't vetted properly and most apps, rarely get passed on the first try.

 

[Quu]

Maybe im high at the moment... but I genuinely didn't understand what you have said. 😅

Basically, when the app is open random people on the internet can pay to forward their internet traffic through your device.

Why would they want to do this? - So that they can pretend to be in the same city as you on a clean normal looking IP address to access things online. IP addresses are similar to phone numbers but for computers on the internet.

 

[code-m]

Instead of investing in its App Store to make it the best and most secure store, which, face it, it isn't, Apple wastes its money on lawyers to defend its untenable position that the iOS "App Store" can be the only App Store on iOS.🤦‍♂️

Means that 30% cut is worth the fight for better or worse. Wonder if it’s the hill that Timmy wants to die on.

 

[subjonas]

Look at Apple not letting the free market decide again

Apple, like every company, is a player in the free market. You're confusing Apple with the government.

 

[ikramerica]

Okay, this ought to be against the TOS, if not illegal. Just think about all the people who probably clicked through any disclaimers in order to try for a few coins to feed their f2p game habits, then forgot to remove the app when they gave up.

If PiedPiper can do it, why not FreeCash?

 

[RaceTripper]

Every individual who used the app, needs to file a class action lawsuit against Apple!

Or they just need to go to the chalkboard and write 100 times, "I am a complete gullible dumbass!"