Scam iOS Apps Still Raking in Millions in Revenue on App Store [Updated]

[mansplains]

I think it's a joke not to call the App Store some derivative of Game Store instead. I made a spreadsheet documenting what percentage of the Today tab is actually apps instead of games, and my findings were worse than I expected. It's crazy when you consider that there are two other tabs dedicated to games, and the Search tab tends to have game suggestions.

A potential issue with removing an app in some sort of quality purge is who's to say that it's entirely a knock-off, scam, or low quality? Perhaps the price structure outlined in the article is a red flag for further review scrutiny, but in the end the app may have been made by a young new developer who has no concept of intellectual property, or it's an inspired "hello world" and work they do to the best of their ability. Obviously in Kosta's case they used his assets.

Don't get me wrong, there's definitely a market for mobile games. But my iPhone has become a toy and it's more difficult to discover useful apps and utilities like what Kosta poured his heart into when algorithms promote crap.

 

[mzubb]

I'm a person who would (and has) paid $5 - $50 for quality, well-supported apps on the App Store. That was in the early days. I'd search for useful apps and games, read app reviews, etc. But that all changed. Scam and copycat apps bloated the store. I'm not even interested anymore. Just yesterday, my company asked us to download Microsoft Authenticator. Putting in that search term doesn't even return that as a top result. Just more scam at the top.

And an app that allows me to efficiently type on my watch. Yes, I'd pay for that. But I stopped engaging the App Store.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Simple solution. Get rid of Ratings and Review totals. Keep reviews, but get rid of review totals.

In the same way that you posted "4.5 star average rating and over 80,000 reviews." as a single meaningful statement, these summaries shown on the App Store have that same meaning. People will often see 4.5 star average rating and over 80,000 reviews as a sign that they should look no further and just download the app.

Get rid of it. No Star Ratings nonsense. No publishing the number of reviews. Let the reviews stay, for people who care to look at reviews. By reading actual reviews you'll know the legitimacy.

Puts all apps back on a level playing field without this bias, which is often fake.

 

[Somian]

There are so many scams on the App Store and scam products on Amazon that I think an actual curation service meant to serve people actual reputable products would make millions.

Yes!

there should be a curation like on game consoles where developers pay for every submission (10-20k would be appropriate) and it gets tested oder a few weeks. Nobody needs a million apps with two updates every week.

I’d rather have a few 1000 apps with updates every few months.

 

[Cloudtrekker]

Though this is bad, it isn't really relevant. There's a huge difference between Apple not policing the behaviour of users within an app – on servers they don't control, in content they have nothing to do with – and removing actual scam apps from its own store.

It was more to point out Apples attitude - if they aren't prepared to investigate this then you have little hope they will investigate 'fake' apps

 

[ArPe]

How does a scam app get 80,000 reviews and a 4.5 star average rating? Are they all fake?

Yes the same way Ashley Madison and other dating apps used millions of fake girls to make men spend money.

The same way Facebook and Twitter made millions of fake accounts to fool their investors.

The same way crypto currency exchanges use fake volume and fake money to artificially inflate prices and steal money using pump and dumps.

The same way political campaign buy robo accounts to look popular and attack their enemies.

 

[topdrawer]

Does apple refund all the scammed people?

 

[rum0rm0nger]

It wouldn't surprise me if some developers got together and opened a bunch of accounts to cross rate each others apps. Bring in friends and family and it doesn't take all that much effort to generate 80K ratings over say six months. Depending on the money they can simply pay someone to write reviews for a few cents per review.

20 people doing 20/day could do it in what, 10 months? Apple could catch it, depending on what information is captured during account setup, such as iPhone IMEI. After a number of reviews from the same footprint but different Apple accounts should send up a red flag.

The problem is if it is lucrative enough scammers will just lather, rinse, repeat.

The way it actually works is that they have what basically amount to "review farms." They have hordes of people working in basically a sweatshop whose whole job is to post fake 5 star reviews on various channels - Amazon, Google Play, Apple App Store, etc. They process tens of thousands of fake reviews in a day and in all countries. Think about the various sites that exist outside of these big 3 - across Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, etc.), across Europe, South America... This is a huge business.

They've gotten more sophisticated at catching this stuff, which is why Amazon sellers also give away items in exchange for 5 star reviews. E.g., we send you $25 in your paypal, you buy this item, keep the change, and give us a 5 star review. But app store reviews, as far as I've read, are still pretty open and easy to game/fake.

 

[Sander]

Folks,

I used to play a game app on my iphone called Toon Blast, but recently I noticed a team on it called Bergen Belzen. Now I'm not sure if any of you are aware that this is a blatant copy of the WW2 concentration camp created by the German war machine which murdered thousands. I complained to the game designers who have done bugger all about it. So I complained to Apple who say "we do not control what goes on within the application, the mechanics of the application, or the delivery of the content. Any issues within the app will need to be taken up with the developer of the application". So I think getting Apple to take any action with 'fake apps' is a pipe dream especially when they are getting paid so much!

Maybe it’s just a team from that location? Bergen is still a town in Germany, and Belsen is an “Ortsteil” of it: https://maps.apple.com/?address=Ber...xwIqdOqDSI0A5ssKI2LtmSkBBKtOe0ifgI0BQAw==&t=m

it’s rather unlikely though, since only 331 people live there...

 

[bousozoku]

Totally agree, when all these discussions about the 30%, seems the cost to police the app store was never brought up.

However, additionally, I'm sure if third party app stores were allowed, they would find and fix a problem like this faster than Apple could have done it.

Third party app stores would likely do less to pay attention, especially if they were part of the scam.

Apple has had 10 years to put procedures into place and has done little. They have had multiple opportunities to hire great minds and they let opportunities pass them. It's as though spending money on security (as well as documentation) would really hurt their sales.

 

[jumpcutking]

Can users report apps that they believe to be suspicious? For that matter, can they request a refund for an app that takes money from them without delivering on the promise? I know I only got (1) "convenience" refund of an accidental IAP (in app purchase).

 

[Rob_2811]

How many times did they reject Spotifys updates?

You can guarantee if any of these apps were trying to circumvent in app purchase they would be gone by now, shows you where Apples priorities are.

 

[mi7chy]

Blind trust is for suckers.

 

[portland_bill]

We are all paying for this craptacular approval process.

 

[Td1970]

How many times did they reject Spotifys updates?

You can guarantee if any of these apps were trying to circumvent in app purchase they would be gone by now, shows you where Apples priorities are.

$$$$$ is all businesses care about. There are zero morals or love in the business world

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don't know what the answer is to get this type of scamming under control but, Apple needs to come up with a competent, active plan quickly. Developers need to be held accountable as does Apple. It's Apple's house after all.

 

[ArPe]

Simple solution. Get rid of Ratings and Review totals. Keep reviews, but get rid of review totals.

The simple solution is have trusted professional reviewers just like the old school days or rotten tomatoes. We only needed a few dozen identifiable reviewers who also give us an updated review when the apps update. They should also publish a list of bugs they experienced.

 

[Lemon Olive]

I don't know what the answer is to get this type of scamming under control but, Apple needs to come up with a competent, active plan quickly. Developers need to be held accountable as does Apple. It's Apple's house after all.

I already laid it out. It's very simple. Stop publishing star ratings or the number of reviews an app has. People don't read the reviews, so they just assume 4.5 stars + 80k = great app. By not publishing these meaningless statistics, people will have to read the reviews (which is supposed to be why they're there), and can easily determine if they are fake reviews or legitimate commentary.

It also has the bonus of putting App Store apps back onto a level playing field. Lots of legitimate apps get buried because of people buying reviews for crap apps.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I already laid it out. It's very simple. Stop publishing star ratings or the number of reviews an app has. People don't read the reviews, so they just assume 4.5 stars + 80k = great app. By not publishing these meaningless statistics, people will have to read the reviews (which is supposed to be why they're there), and can easily determine if they are fake reviews or legitimate commentary.

It also has the bonus of putting App Store apps back onto a level playing field. Lots of legitimate apps get buried because of people buying reviews for crap apps.

I can go along with that idea. Apple did away with reviews on their own store. I see no reason why they couldn't do as you suggested, and not publish.

 

[cocoua]

Shame on you Apple, shame on you

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

But...but...Apple have a review team that works hard to ensure a standard of quality is met on the App Store.

BAHAHAHAHAHA yeah right. If it makes them money they'll let it slide as long as they can.

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

I can go along with that idea. Apple did away with reviews on their own store. I see no reason why they couldn't do as you suggested, and not publish.

The reviews on their own store were pretty poor, which is (I suspect) why they got rid of them.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The reviews on their own store were pretty poor, which is (I suspect) why they got rid of them.

Bad reviews taking away business, even though many were very insightful as to actual performance.

 

[SWAON]

AppStore on my location is a trash. No wonder why 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[aleksander]

There are so many scams on the App Store and scam products on Amazon that I think an actual curation service meant to serve people actual reputable products would make millions.

Scammers would eventually build their own curation sites, no? It's Apple that needs to act here, not people doing their job for free. I'd say talk as much about the problem as possible. When it stinks enough, Apple will react.