4 ms·
You can buy and rate an app through iTunes without actually having a iPhone synced, right? 400 scammy 5-star reviews don't represent 400 iPhones out there, they
by Cushman 15y ago
You can buy and rate an app through iTunes without actually having a iPhone synced, right? 400 scammy 5-star reviews don't represent 400 iPhones out there, they represent 400 PayPal accounts — shoot, it might even be the same PayPal account — and a bill for $800 less $560 earnings.
I just confirmed this by creating a new Apple ID, linking it to my real PayPal which has been linked to a different account in the past, and buying and reviewing a (different, non-scammy) app. (Sorry Apple!)
Seems like the quick fix here is to require you to rate apps on the device itself. It would raise the barrier to entry significantly, at least.
- benjaminma 15y agoOr a bill of $400... Aug 07 '11 $1.99 -> $2.99 Aug 06 '11 $.99 -> $1.99 Aug 04 '11 New App: $.99 (release) This scam isn't limited to paid apps. There are "marketing" services that promise tens of thousands of downloads of your app on the day of your choosing (obviously, to game the iTunes free rankings). Apparently, another developer is claiming the assets/screenshots used are also stolen by this stand up guy: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lockitize-your-lock-screen/id445198370?mt=8 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lockitize-your-lock-screen/id...
- Cushman 15y agoWhich has 34 5-star reviews, 546 1-star reviews, and none in between. This is pretty ludicrous :P