One of the reasons Apple has insisted on maintaining its walled garden approach to iOS apps is that they have a greater degree of control over what apps make it in. This is meant to cut back on malicious or scam apps as each app is reviewed before it is allowed to be listed on the iOS App Store.
However, it seems that Apple’s review process definitely could use more work because according to developer Kosta Eleftheriou, he has discovered a new app that is a kids game, but in reality, it is a gambling app in disguise. The game claims to be a “fun running game” for kids aged 4 and up, but apparently if you use a VPN or access the app using an IP from Turkey, it actually unlocks an online casino that uses its own payment system.
The developer uses shady ads to attract unsuspecting users, pretending the app was featured on CNN Turk. pic.twitter.com/zbuddS8Jrf
— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) April 15, 2021
The app even uses shady marketing where they allege that they were featured on CNN Turkey. The developer points out since Apple advertises the App Store as a place that users can trust, people wouldn’t necessarily think twice about downloading this app. Eleftheriou claims that the app remained in the App Store for months and even had its updates approved by Apple.
The app has since been removed but it is unclear how much money the app might have made since then. This is actually not the first time Eleftheriou discovered a scam app in the App Store. Just the other day he found a scam app that was making millions off iOS users.