The developer of a popular Apple iOS app has been sharing on his Twitter account a thread of multiple scam apps he found on the Apple App Store, with many posing as a ripoff of his very own software.
Developer of Apple Watch keyboard app shows how to pinpoint scam apps.
Highlighting Alleged Scam Apps on the App Store
According to 9to5Mac, FlickType developer Kosta Eleftheriou has been showing his followers many alleged scam apps on the App Store and even taught them how to stop such types of software as they often have the same formula of using fake reviews and even a weekly subscription, which makes it possible for them to gain revenue from Apple iPhone users.
In context, FlickType is one of a keyboard application for the Apple Watch that brings gesture typing to the wearable tech.
Moreover, Eleftheriou is also the person behind Blind Type, which was acquired by Google, and the Flesky keyboard app that was acquired by Pinterest.
Based on the report, the Twitter thread began weeks ago.
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How the Scam Apps Operate
The developer would usually highlight non-functional ripoffs of FlickType, such as the most obvious one: KeyWatch, which, according to Eleftheriou, promised users a watch keyboard that was practically unusable and "heavily" advertised the app on popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
First, they made an app that appeared to fulfill the promise of a watch keyboard - but was practically unusable. Then, they started heavily advertising on FB & Instagram, using my own promo video, of my own app, with my actual name on it: https://t.co/knnO6Mbiyb
— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) January 31, 2021
Moreover, Eleftheriou claimed that the promo app used his own video of his own app and even had his name on it.
Nevertheless, upon downloading the app, Apple Watch users are met with a blank interface that only had an "Unlock Now" button, which upon clicking would prompt users to subscribe to the app for $8 a week.
Since the developer's Twitter thread gained more attention, Apple has already removed KeyWatch from the App Store, along with a few other similar apps.
However, Eleftheriou shared that although KeyWatch had been removed, the tech giant has kept the developer account and that their other app called GPS Speedometer is apparently since in the App Store, which is allegedly taking an average of $200,000 each month from its subscribers with the $416 a year subscription.
How to Point Out Scams
Furthermore, the developer has also created another simple thread on his account, sharing a "$5M/year scam" on the App Store in just five minutes.
As with the previous scam apps he has highlighted, the app in question called Star Gazer+, which is still on the App Store with a 4.4 rating and more than 80,000 ratings, has the same formula of fake reviews ratings that trick users into thinking it's a legitimate service.
Fellow developer Marco Arment commented on the whole thing and suggested a way to stop the scam apps from appearing.
According to Arment, Apple should eliminate the weekly subscription billing entirely as this seemed to be a common trick that shady developers with shady apps have been using, based on Eleftheriou's threads.
It seems like Eleftheriou has reached out to Apple about his concerns, according to his interview with TechCrunch, but it seems like many of his complaints were "barely addressed."
For now, everyone is encouraged to be wary of the apps they install and subscribe to.
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Written by: Nhx Tingson
