Over one year has passed since Avast published the list of the 133 dangerous iOS scam apps. Yet, in 2022, we still see more than 60% of these apps active on the App Store. In fact, they boast 500 million downloads and over $100 million in annual revenue.
The fraudulent apps also saw 7.2 million unique downloads for the month of May. And based on this one month’s revenue for the 84 fraudulent apps currently active, it is calculated that the developers have earned over $8.6 million in combined net revenue for May 2022.
According to a report published by VPNcheck, these figures don’t even account for fraudulent apps identified through other sources. Although Avast’s list of fleeceware subscription apps states that the developers of these apps have made more than $365 million in total revenue, based on Sensor Tower data, they did not provide any details of Apple’s cut of these earnings.
Most fraudulent apps that are known to make massive profits from the AppStore are fleeceware apps that charge exorbitant subscription fees, are hard to cancel, and often surprise users with hidden costs and deductions. While these apps don’t aim to attack users’ devices, their goal is still to take as much money from the user as possible - with hardly any interest in actually improving the app for the user to enjoy.
Fleeceware apps are typically camouflaged as entertainment apps. For example, photo editors, filter apps, wallpaper apps, etc. could be well-concealed fleeceware apps designed to defraud any user who provided payment information and subscribed to their services.
Fortunately, it is not too hard to spot a scam app on the App Store. Users will usually notice a lot of fake 5-star reviews. And, if one takes a moment to look at the 1-star reviews, it will be apparent that hundreds - or even thousands - of users have been defrauded by high subscription costs.
As VPNcheck points out in their report, if you have tried unsubscribing and cannot do so, the best method to stop payments to scam apps would be to contact your bank to freeze payment requests from the developers.
According to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, the company reviews around 100,000 apps every week and about 40% of these apps get rejected. Excluding Avast’s list, critics of Apple’s business practices have also published evidence of fraudulent apps on the App Store. The information has been publicly available for a relatively long time and, while stricter policies were put in place due to antitrust lawsuits, most scam apps are thriving.
30% commission from app developers’ sales, it stands to reason that they have earned a substantial sum from the activities of these fraudulent apps. As such, frequently employing some of the world’s best talent, it does not make sense that these apps would remain on the App Store for long. Further, scam apps have been around since the existence of the App Store - which opened on July 10, 2008.
As an example of a run-of-the-mill scam app, Tweets from AppStore critic Kosta Eleftheriou indicated fraudulent apps - such as StringVPN - used fake reviews, a Gmail.ru contact email, and a blank website.
The App Store provides a button to report these scams, but no decisive action has been taken to ensure that scam apps do not remain on the App Store - even after multiple reports have been made public about their existence.
But, with this kind of monetary motivation, it seems that Apple is in no rush to completely rid their App Store of fleeceware apps anytime soon.
The list of fleeceware apps that are currently active on Apple’s App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frames-picture-collage-maker/id536422900
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/facelab-face-editor-beauty/id1361012099
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teasear-asmr-slime-antistress/id1439312630
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nebula-horoscope-astrology/id1459969523
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astroline-daily-horoscope/id1448364002
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flmx-video-editor/id1099718747
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stickerfy-sticker-maker/id1466604853
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixomatic-background-eraser/id1332651082
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speedpro-slow-speed-video-edit/id939421784
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/music-zen-relaxing-sounds/id1435584540
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sticker-maker-besticky/id1457046754
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-to-sketch-drawing-book/id421785759
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mood-balance-self-care-tracker/id1471631164
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/presets-for-lightroom-vidl/id1490818231
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jigsaw-puzzle-brain-games/id779522558
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lift-story-maker/id1505322988
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dazzle-insta-stories-editor/id1466069710
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/baby-sticker-track-milestones/id1122479790
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/life-palmistry-ai-palm-tag/id1477300670
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photoly-remove-object-editor/id1510762680
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/facetory-face-yoga-exercise/id1490238689
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vochi-video-effects-editor/id1477897886
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lucky-life-future-seer/id1477300425
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dazz-cam-d3d-photo-effect/id1138339822
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beat-ly-music-video-maker/id1528112173
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ultrafx-effect-video-maker/id1519401508
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/girl-games-unicorn-slime/id1448228271
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/impresso-insta-story-editor/id1330592794
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdf-scanner-ocr-document-scan/id1450250541
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dizzi-video-effects-filters/id1479390854
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hyper-cleaner-phone-cleaning/id1514366072
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/highlight-story-cover-maker/id1450598373
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cartoons-me-photo-art-editor/id1528176190
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sweet-pics-baby-photo-editor/id1435294929
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slimy-slime-simulator-games/id1522502107
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frame-slideshow-video-maker/id1523277919
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/auto-sticker-maker-studio/id1508129645
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icons-icon-changer-app/id1533947078
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toonapp-cartoon-photo-editor/id1540719743
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-fx-video-effect-master/id1512758709
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/horoscope-2019-and-palm-reader/id1450162608
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/handset-second-phone-number/id1372445149
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slidepic-slideshow-maker/id1456747929
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/horoscope-astrology-astro/id447709673
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faceme-fun-personality-tests/id1438851903
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widget-plus-photo-calendar/id1534297276
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aipic-magic-photo-editor/id1457371162
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/path-horoscope-astrology/id1446001957
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-collage-collageable/id1085652055
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/hub-story-post-templates/id1501366665
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widget-pro-custom-widgets/id1532864216
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/video-puzzles-magic-puzzle/id1468905210
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/menu-maker/id1545086676
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/edjing-mix-dj-app-mixer/id493226494
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-chords-tabs-games/id426912243
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-lessons-tiles-games/id694133630
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wedrum-drum-games-real-drums/id474286241
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metronome-tap-tempo-rhythm/id559798172
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-tuner-ukulele-bass/id662890455
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-real-games-lessons/id1365011081
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drums-play-beats-drum-games/id1381436705
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beat-maker-pro-dj-drum-pad/id1362013798
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/karaoke-songs-voice-singing/id1235472374
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-crush-keyboard-games/id1392338617
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/edjing-pro-music-remix-maker/id1022000001
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dj-it-music-mixer-virtual-pad/id1470224073
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jambl-dj-band-beat-maker/id1125826534
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-play-games-songs/id1388274732
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/memoristo-brain-test-iq-game/id1477199570
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/loop-maker-pro-music-maker/id1515251400
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metronome-pro-beat-tempo/id1439767245
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/equalizer-hd-music-player/id777191669
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bass-booster-volume-power-amp/id927920917
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/equalizer-fx-bass-booster/id1084228340
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanguru-pro-pdf-scanner-app/id1040149161
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drink-water-daily-reminder/id1056210011
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/password-manager-safe-lock/id1464513090
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/live-wallpaper-maker-4k-theme/id1462763762
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/recollect-color-by-number/id1364842664
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/avatar-maker-character-creator/id1459119812
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/translator-guru-voice-text/id1458104794
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ringtones-hd-ringtone-maker/id1468282792
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanner-scan-edit-sign-pdf/id1450144832
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/translate-camera-speak-on/id1403169042
Read next: Study Reveals That Approximately 21% of Americans Can’t Remember Their Own Phone Numbers
The fraudulent apps also saw 7.2 million unique downloads for the month of May. And based on this one month’s revenue for the 84 fraudulent apps currently active, it is calculated that the developers have earned over $8.6 million in combined net revenue for May 2022.
According to a report published by VPNcheck, these figures don’t even account for fraudulent apps identified through other sources. Although Avast’s list of fleeceware subscription apps states that the developers of these apps have made more than $365 million in total revenue, based on Sensor Tower data, they did not provide any details of Apple’s cut of these earnings.
Most fraudulent apps that are known to make massive profits from the AppStore are fleeceware apps that charge exorbitant subscription fees, are hard to cancel, and often surprise users with hidden costs and deductions. While these apps don’t aim to attack users’ devices, their goal is still to take as much money from the user as possible - with hardly any interest in actually improving the app for the user to enjoy.
Fleeceware apps are typically camouflaged as entertainment apps. For example, photo editors, filter apps, wallpaper apps, etc. could be well-concealed fleeceware apps designed to defraud any user who provided payment information and subscribed to their services.
Fortunately, it is not too hard to spot a scam app on the App Store. Users will usually notice a lot of fake 5-star reviews. And, if one takes a moment to look at the 1-star reviews, it will be apparent that hundreds - or even thousands - of users have been defrauded by high subscription costs.
As VPNcheck points out in their report, if you have tried unsubscribing and cannot do so, the best method to stop payments to scam apps would be to contact your bank to freeze payment requests from the developers.
According to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, the company reviews around 100,000 apps every week and about 40% of these apps get rejected. Excluding Avast’s list, critics of Apple’s business practices have also published evidence of fraudulent apps on the App Store. The information has been publicly available for a relatively long time and, while stricter policies were put in place due to antitrust lawsuits, most scam apps are thriving.
30% commission from app developers’ sales, it stands to reason that they have earned a substantial sum from the activities of these fraudulent apps. As such, frequently employing some of the world’s best talent, it does not make sense that these apps would remain on the App Store for long. Further, scam apps have been around since the existence of the App Store - which opened on July 10, 2008.
As an example of a run-of-the-mill scam app, Tweets from AppStore critic Kosta Eleftheriou indicated fraudulent apps - such as StringVPN - used fake reviews, a Gmail.ru contact email, and a blank website.
The App Store provides a button to report these scams, but no decisive action has been taken to ensure that scam apps do not remain on the App Store - even after multiple reports have been made public about their existence.
But, with this kind of monetary motivation, it seems that Apple is in no rush to completely rid their App Store of fleeceware apps anytime soon.
The list of fleeceware apps that are currently active on Apple’s App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frames-picture-collage-maker/id536422900
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/facelab-face-editor-beauty/id1361012099
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teasear-asmr-slime-antistress/id1439312630
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nebula-horoscope-astrology/id1459969523
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astroline-daily-horoscope/id1448364002
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flmx-video-editor/id1099718747
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stickerfy-sticker-maker/id1466604853
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixomatic-background-eraser/id1332651082
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speedpro-slow-speed-video-edit/id939421784
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/music-zen-relaxing-sounds/id1435584540
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sticker-maker-besticky/id1457046754
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-to-sketch-drawing-book/id421785759
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mood-balance-self-care-tracker/id1471631164
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/presets-for-lightroom-vidl/id1490818231
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jigsaw-puzzle-brain-games/id779522558
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lift-story-maker/id1505322988
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dazzle-insta-stories-editor/id1466069710
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/baby-sticker-track-milestones/id1122479790
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/life-palmistry-ai-palm-tag/id1477300670
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photoly-remove-object-editor/id1510762680
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/facetory-face-yoga-exercise/id1490238689
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vochi-video-effects-editor/id1477897886
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lucky-life-future-seer/id1477300425
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dazz-cam-d3d-photo-effect/id1138339822
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beat-ly-music-video-maker/id1528112173
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ultrafx-effect-video-maker/id1519401508
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/girl-games-unicorn-slime/id1448228271
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/impresso-insta-story-editor/id1330592794
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdf-scanner-ocr-document-scan/id1450250541
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dizzi-video-effects-filters/id1479390854
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hyper-cleaner-phone-cleaning/id1514366072
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/highlight-story-cover-maker/id1450598373
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cartoons-me-photo-art-editor/id1528176190
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sweet-pics-baby-photo-editor/id1435294929
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slimy-slime-simulator-games/id1522502107
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/frame-slideshow-video-maker/id1523277919
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/auto-sticker-maker-studio/id1508129645
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icons-icon-changer-app/id1533947078
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toonapp-cartoon-photo-editor/id1540719743
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magic-fx-video-effect-master/id1512758709
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/horoscope-2019-and-palm-reader/id1450162608
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/handset-second-phone-number/id1372445149
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slidepic-slideshow-maker/id1456747929
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/horoscope-astrology-astro/id447709673
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faceme-fun-personality-tests/id1438851903
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widget-plus-photo-calendar/id1534297276
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aipic-magic-photo-editor/id1457371162
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/path-horoscope-astrology/id1446001957
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-collage-collageable/id1085652055
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/hub-story-post-templates/id1501366665
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widget-pro-custom-widgets/id1532864216
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/video-puzzles-magic-puzzle/id1468905210
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/menu-maker/id1545086676
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/edjing-mix-dj-app-mixer/id493226494
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-chords-tabs-games/id426912243
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-lessons-tiles-games/id694133630
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wedrum-drum-games-real-drums/id474286241
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metronome-tap-tempo-rhythm/id559798172
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-tuner-ukulele-bass/id662890455
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-real-games-lessons/id1365011081
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drums-play-beats-drum-games/id1381436705
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beat-maker-pro-dj-drum-pad/id1362013798
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/karaoke-songs-voice-singing/id1235472374
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-crush-keyboard-games/id1392338617
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/edjing-pro-music-remix-maker/id1022000001
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dj-it-music-mixer-virtual-pad/id1470224073
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jambl-dj-band-beat-maker/id1125826534
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-play-games-songs/id1388274732
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/memoristo-brain-test-iq-game/id1477199570
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/loop-maker-pro-music-maker/id1515251400
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metronome-pro-beat-tempo/id1439767245
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/equalizer-hd-music-player/id777191669
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bass-booster-volume-power-amp/id927920917
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/equalizer-fx-bass-booster/id1084228340
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanguru-pro-pdf-scanner-app/id1040149161
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drink-water-daily-reminder/id1056210011
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/password-manager-safe-lock/id1464513090
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/live-wallpaper-maker-4k-theme/id1462763762
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/recollect-color-by-number/id1364842664
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/avatar-maker-character-creator/id1459119812
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/translator-guru-voice-text/id1458104794
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ringtones-hd-ringtone-maker/id1468282792
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanner-scan-edit-sign-pdf/id1450144832
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/translate-camera-speak-on/id1403169042
Read next: Study Reveals That Approximately 21% of Americans Can’t Remember Their Own Phone Numbers
