Has Apple Uncovered the World’s Largest App Scam? $2.2 Billion in Fraudulent Transactions Blocked

New Delhi: Apple has made a major claim, stating that over the past year, it has blocked fraudulent transactions worth crores of rupees, thereby saving people’s hard-earned money from being stolen. This information was shared via the Apple Newsroom.

The App Store has prevented fraud exceeding $2.22 billion (approximately ₹18,000 crore) in transactions. Over the last six years, the company has successfully prevented fraud totaling more than $11.2 billion.

Millions of Visitors Every Week
Apple reported that the App Store, spanning 175 countries, receives over 850 million visitors every week. To ensure user safety, Apple stated that it employs a dedicated review team and advanced machine learning systems to detect scams, malicious apps, fake reviews, and payment fraud.

Over 9.1 Million App Submissions in 2025
Apple revealed that its App Review team processed over 9.1 million app submissions in 2025 and onboarded 300,000 new developers. Furthermore, more than 2 million app submissions were rejected for violating App Store guidelines. These rejections included both 1.2 million new apps and 800,000 app updates.

Review Team Comprises Both Humans and AI
The company further explained that its review team operates using a combination of human reviewers and AI-based systems. These systems rapidly identify malicious apps and assist in blocking them.

Many Apps Later Changed Their Nature
In its report, Apple noted that it has removed 59,000 apps that were initially approved as games or standard utility tools but were subsequently transformed into fraudulent platforms.

Millions of Accounts Have Been Shut Down
The U.S.-based company has stated that numerous cyber fraudsters attempt to manipulate app rankings, distribute spam, and post fake reviews using bot networks and fraudulent accounts. In this regard, the company has disclosed that it blocked attempts to create 1.1 billion fake accounts in 2025.

Rules Regarding Child Safety Were Violated
Apple has also reported that more than 5,000 apps within the “Kids” category have been rejected for violating regulations designed to ensure child safety. These apps had previously claimed to utilize parental control features—such as “Screen Time” and “Ask to Buy”—which allow parents to monitor their children’s app activity and purchases.