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A top-grossing scam on the App Store

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Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#81

Post by ed_elliott_asc »

tolmasky wrote: post #71
ProjectArcturis wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they allowed side-loading, they might not capture 30% of revenue from apps sold through the app store. If they disallowed scams, they might not capture 30% of the scammers' revenue.

I actually believe that if they allowed side-loading it would be one of the best ways to guarantee that they continue capturing 30% of revenue in perpetuity. This is because they could actually for the first time make developers feel like they're getting something for that 30%, as opposed to it being an "existence tax". Apple could actually with a straight face say "hey, you don't HAVE to be on the store, try doing i…

This is the worst thing they could do, leave google open to host iOS apps on their store

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#82

Post by csours »

simonw wrote: post #60

I got scammed on the App Store a couple of weeks ago. I needed the SmartThings app for some Samsung home automation devices, searched for it, and installed this one: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-things-smart-view-app/id... When it charged me a $20/year subscription (now cancelled) I thought "Wow, Samsung charging me for this feels pretty cheap of them, but I guess that's how they do things - after all, I found…

The fake one has 4.1 stars and the real one has 4.4 stars, not a very strong signal. I wonder if they are also cheating that.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#83

Post by Apocryphon »

tolmasky wrote: post #71
ProjectArcturis wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they allowed side-loading, they might not capture 30% of revenue from apps sold through the app store. If they disallowed scams, they might not capture 30% of the scammers' revenue.

I actually believe that if they allowed side-loading it would be one of the best ways to guarantee that they continue capturing 30% of revenue in perpetuity. This is because they could actually for the first time make developers feel like they're getting something for that 30%, as opposed to it being an "existence tax". Apple could actually with a straight face say "hey, you don't HAVE to be on the store, try doing i…

Truth be told, Apple could own side-loading on its own terms. They can present their own APIs that provide some freedom outside of the App Store, without ceding all of their control. Wrap it up in copious disclaimers and language informing the end-user that Apple is not responsible for what happens with these "advanced settings." Bake security checks into this process. Make side-loading into a walled garden unto itself.

This would also disincentivize jailbreakers, as fewer power users would be interested in pursuing the 100% amount of freedom that jailbreaking allows.

You could even go all of the way and have Apple adopt a "can't beat us? Join us" mentality towards independent app repositories outside of App Store by providing their own APIs and SDKs to run your own third-party app store. Again, architect it to automatically include security checks. Tie in subtle ways for Apple still to get a cut and a measure of their control.

This is far from a concrete description of what "third party stores brought to you by Apple" would look like, but if there's any company that could square the circle and make it a reality, it'd be Apple.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#84

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

sjg007 wrote: post #55

Google isn't immune either I suspect. Before the app store, I discovered a google search scam for usps change of address. You can fill that out for free at usps.com or in the post office, but if you search for it, a bunch of scammy providers offered to do it for you for $20. They were buying google ads so that their links appeared before the usps. They would come from somewhat legit looking domains too. I think part…

Google's Play Store is a cesspit at times, frankly speaking. But you enter it with low expectations since they don't advertise it to you as a walled garden experience, curation by hand, artisanal repackaging, and whatnot, and you tune your buyer beware sense to 11.

On the other hand, Apple's like a restaurant that promises you clean and superior experience, you enter, it's clean and tidy indeed, but then you suddenly get served a smelly smoked herring wrapped in an old stained newspaper, and get charged $199 for it on top.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#85

Post by Apocryphon »

ed_elliott_asc wrote: post #81
tolmasky wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually believe that if they allowed side-loading it would be one of the best ways to guarantee that they continue capturing 30% of revenue in perpetuity. This is because they could actually for the first time make developers feel like they're getting something for that 30%, as opposed to it being an "existence tax". Apple could actually with a straight face say "hey, you don't HAVE to be on the store, try doing i…

This is the worst thing they could do, leave google open to host iOS apps on their store

Not really, judging by the current quality of the Play Store.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#86

Post by andai »

planb wrote: post #75
simonw wrote: post #60

I got scammed on the App Store a couple of weeks ago. I needed the SmartThings app for some Samsung home automation devices, searched for it, and installed this one: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-things-smart-view-app/id... When it charged me a $20/year subscription (now cancelled) I thought "Wow, Samsung charging me for this feels pretty cheap of them, but I guess that's how they do things - after all, I found…

Apart from the subscription scam, I don't see a problem here. Just imagine the comments here if Apple had rejected a legit app just because it has "Smart Things" in the name.

They also copied the style and font of the screenshots from the official app (you know, the one whose name they stole, to trick people into installing it).

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#87

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

terrywilcox wrote: post #65

It's as if the people paying for this app aren't actually the ones complaining. Why wouldn't they complain if it was a scam? Because they're not actually using it. It's a money laundering app. If you're just laundering money through an app, it doesn't have to actually do anything. And if you make the price outrageously high, you can launder more money with fewer clicks and reduce the risk of some idiot actually buyin…

> Why wouldn't they complain if it was a scam?

~120 1-star reviews are saying you're wrong about this one.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#88

Post by infogulch »

tolmasky wrote: post #71
ProjectArcturis wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they allowed side-loading, they might not capture 30% of revenue from apps sold through the app store. If they disallowed scams, they might not capture 30% of the scammers' revenue.

I actually believe that if they allowed side-loading it would be one of the best ways to guarantee that they continue capturing 30% of revenue in perpetuity. This is because they could actually for the first time make developers feel like they're getting something for that 30%, as opposed to it being an "existence tax". Apple could actually with a straight face say "hey, you don't HAVE to be on the store, try doing i…

I think it's apple playing chicken with regulators. Surely they also see this problem as inevitably coming to a head, but if they can flirt with the line, they can make bank until they're forced to move on it. They probably have responses to potential issues and a transition already planned out; they are simply milking the current situation for all its worth.

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#89

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

xondono wrote: post #48
Calvin02 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, but if it came to Google, Facebook, or Amazon, you'd be all over them with a pitchfork. Users of HN really have some rose coloured blinders on when it comes to Apple.

If people judged Googles playstore with this criteria pitchforks wouldn’t cut it. This post to me sounds like someone claiming spam filters are worthless because an email got across. The relevant metric is how many scams aren’t there , not how many have managed to stay for some indeterminate amount of time.

> This post to me sounds like someone claiming spam filters are worthless because an email got across.

If I'm literally prevented from using any other kind of spam filter, you bet I'd be complaining.

> The relevant metric is how many scams aren’t there

Would you please also prove there is definitely no teapot orbiting Mars, while we're at it?

Re: A top-grossing scam on the App Store

#90

Post by slobotron »

fortran77 wrote: post #72
simonw wrote: post #60

I got scammed on the App Store a couple of weeks ago. I needed the SmartThings app for some Samsung home automation devices, searched for it, and installed this one: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-things-smart-view-app/id... When it charged me a $20/year subscription (now cancelled) I thought "Wow, Samsung charging me for this feels pretty cheap of them, but I guess that's how they do things - after all, I found…

It's because of this issue I've learned to never search for a manufacturer or company app in the app store. I go to the company's website and see if I can find an app store link to it there. It's nearly impossible for anyone--even the most savvy user--to identify which app is the real one and which one is a deceptive one.

Kind of funny that we trust Google's index of the whole www to take us to manufacturer's legitimate website, but don't trust Apple's own search of their curated store.
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