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Wait, I'm confused: Are spammers using Apple devices? I always assumed they were just generic VoIP devices in boiler rooms (or bots, obviously). Why would you

Wait, I'm confused: Are spammers using Apple devices? I always assumed they were just generic VoIP devices in boiler rooms (or bots, obviously). Why would you invest that kind of money into a device for making spam calls?

bilbo0s 8y ago
Believe it or not, people use mobile in-app purchases to test stolen credit card numbers. Then use the credit card numbers that pass the test to score bigger hits. As horrible as it sounds, when you're trying to fight fraud, you have to think like a criminal. And the whole in-app purchase test is pretty standard practice among criminals. I think that cliché comes to mind: "This is why we can't have nice things."
18040063 8y ago
This isn't about call spam calls. This is about app review farms and spam reviews. The way the headlines are being made and the way it's being discussed is FUD trying to show that Apple is evil; they're just making an effort to make sure app reviews are legitimate.
- jtr_47 8y ago
  To remove issues with fake reviews, remove the ability to post reviews and rankings for an application. Instead, enable a application refund system. If you don't like the application, you have 60-90 days to get a refund. No more nonsense with fake reviews and such. You as the individual will determine if an application or song or whatever is good for you. Don't rely on reviews, they can be faked. peace
  - bilbo0s 8y ago
    This is a really good idea! Although, I suspect, app developers would absolutely hate it.
    - MBCook 8y ago
      Because it would be a disaster. There are so many games that you can complete in a day or two. They may be absolutely FANTASTIC, like Monument Valley. But people already don’t like paying for apps so they’ll ask for their $.99 back after they’ve played the game. The end result is the only games they can survive or 90 our games that are full of in app purchases. Every other app could be easily download it, used, and refunded it quickly. As bad as monetization is in the App Store right now it would be in order of magnitude worse.
      - jtr_47 8y ago
        Build in a trial period then with limited functionality/levels. The cost of that trail period is a small percentage of the overall price. For isntance, let's say the game is $12 USD. The trial period of the game would be 2 days 1 or 2 levels & cost $2 USD. you can upgrade to the full game (no refunds) or pay as you go for each level/functionality. Yes - maybe this is more programming, but we have better languages & libraries to make this happen. I think there's a way to do this & eliminate nonsense.
        MBCook 8y ago
        $12 games are an absolute no-go on the App Store. If the app is paid its almost certainly $0.99, maybe $2. So that doesn’t work, unless the ‘trial period’ is $0.20. And at that point Apple/etc is losing money on CC fees.

bilbo0s 8y ago

Believe it or not, people use mobile in-app purchases to test stolen credit card numbers. Then use the credit card numbers that pass the test to score bigger hits. As horrible as it sounds, when you're trying to fight fraud, you have to think like a criminal. And the whole in-app purchase test is pretty standard practice among criminals. I think that cliché comes to mind: "This is why we can't have nice things."

18040063 8y ago

This isn't about call spam calls. This is about app review farms and spam reviews. The way the headlines are being made and the way it's being discussed is FUD trying to show that Apple is evil; they're just making an effort to make sure app reviews are legitimate.

jtr_47 8y ago
To remove issues with fake reviews, remove the ability to post reviews and rankings for an application. Instead, enable a application refund system. If you don't like the application, you have 60-90 days to get a refund. No more nonsense with fake reviews and such. You as the individual will determine if an application or song or whatever is good for you. Don't rely on reviews, they can be faked. peace
- bilbo0s 8y ago
  This is a really good idea! Although, I suspect, app developers would absolutely hate it.
  - MBCook 8y ago
    Because it would be a disaster. There are so many games that you can complete in a day or two. They may be absolutely FANTASTIC, like Monument Valley. But people already don’t like paying for apps so they’ll ask for their $.99 back after they’ve played the game. The end result is the only games they can survive or 90 our games that are full of in app purchases. Every other app could be easily download it, used, and refunded it quickly. As bad as monetization is in the App Store right now it would be in order of magnitude worse.
    - jtr_47 8y ago
      Build in a trial period then with limited functionality/levels. The cost of that trail period is a small percentage of the overall price. For isntance, let's say the game is $12 USD. The trial period of the game would be 2 days 1 or 2 levels & cost $2 USD. you can upgrade to the full game (no refunds) or pay as you go for each level/functionality. Yes - maybe this is more programming, but we have better languages & libraries to make this happen. I think there's a way to do this & eliminate nonsense.
      - MBCook 8y ago
        $12 games are an absolute no-go on the App Store. If the app is paid its almost certainly $0.99, maybe $2. So that doesn’t work, unless the ‘trial period’ is $0.20. And at that point Apple/etc is losing money on CC fees.