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'Report a Problem' App Store Option Returns to Combat Scams

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After being removed several years ago, Apple has restored the "Report a Problem" option on the App Store in an effort to flag issues and combat scams.

app-store-blue-banner.jpg

Spotted by Richard Mazkewich and Kosta Eleftheriou and highlighted by The Verge, the option allows users to report individual App Store listings in iOS 15. When selected, the option directs users to a website with a drop-down menu to report App Store violations, including a specific option to "Report a scam or fraud."

The previous option, which was difficult to access, allowed users to "Report suspicious activity" redirected to Apple Support. Users were only able to report "a quality issue" with apps if they had actually paid for a scam app or in-app purchase, meaning that there was no ability to easily report obvious scams.



The "Report a Problem" option appears to be rolling out slowly, starting with free apps with in-app purchases on the App Store in the United States. The addition comes just days after Apple added the ability for users to rate their own apps on the App Store.

Article Link: 'Report a Problem' App Store Option Returns to Combat Scams
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/04/report-a-problem-app-store-option-returns/
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It's about time.
The next step for Apple: put lots of qualified reviewers under App Store team instead of hanging around just paltry hundreds of team members.
 
wanha said:
Seems like a no-brainer move.

But what I'd really like to know is why on earth was it ever removed to begin with? (FWIW, I'm not holding my breath on an answer to that)
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I was literally going to put the same kind of comment in. I don't see why it was ever gone. I also wonder if it was ever investigated, too, when reported.
 
Thank goodness they had the good sense to go against the annoying trend of corporate butchering of the English language and correctly used "problem" instead of "issue" :)
 
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wanha said:
Seems like a no-brainer move.

But what I'd really like to know is why on earth was it ever removed to begin with? (FWIW, I'm not holding my breath on an answer to that)
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I think the problem was that Apple was being inundated with so many reports that they were overwhelmed. Easiest solution was to make it go away by removing the option to report.
 
Hooo now they expect me to clap, and tell them how good they are for solving a problem they have created.
if they were being bombarded with reports, add filters. Don’t just silence everyone. Now if only they would stop those app thieves from posting their apps on the AppStore
 
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Phil making really good moves on the App Store lately, even if it’s been forced by the endless amount of antitrust controversy surrounding it. Wouldn’t get cynical about them adding this feature back yet; Phil is the exact kind of leader Steve spotted and put exactly where they should be. His passion for the company is some of the most genuine you’ll see out of almost any Apple executive (or, in this case, “Fellow…” oh, Tim).
 
I'm reminded of the unconnected buttons added to some pedestrian crossings. They calm people down by giving the illusion of control even though the crossing lights operate independent of the input.
 
I hope they will keep focus on this publicly-announced initiative more than they did for the security bug-bounty program.
 
ElectricPotato said:
I'm reminded of the unconnected buttons added to some pedestrian crossings. They calm people down by giving the illusion of control even though the crossing lights operate independent of the input.
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That would be patently false. While the people who push the button repeatedly are being rewarded by their own self-soothing, the buttons do exactly as advertised. I do traffic and transportation engineering design.
 
Does banning perfectly legal apps like game streaming, emulators and torrent clients count as a reportable problem?
 
I hope that Apple will objectively evaluate user reports and take appropriate action.

Last week when I upgraded my iPhone, the version of PocketMoney I had on my old device was replaced by the version that is currently available on the App Store, a thing I did NOT want. This has garbled years of financial data!

This current version of PocketMoney is a clone of iCompta 6, an App that remains available in the App Store. The developer of iCompta has publically acknowledged that he sold the source code to the new owner of PocketMoney.

PocketMoney was acquired by an Italian "wealth manager" after its creator passed away, apparently with the intention of monetizing it using the goodwill built over the years (started as an Apple Newton App). To add insult to injury the new owner refuses to allow long-time users access to the previous version of the App thay have paid for.

I have reported the above as a Scam/Fraud & encourage other long-time PocketMoney users to do the same.

Let us put the ball in Apple's court & see if they are really in the game (of taking down App Store violaters).
 
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