Apple says it blocked $2 billion in App Store fraud last year

Apple’s App Store protected users from about $2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2024 and about $9 billion over the last five years, the company said Tuesday.

“These threats range from deceptive apps designed to steal personal information, to fraudulent payment schemes that attempt to exploit users,” Apple said in a news release tallying the App Store’s security efforts over the past year. The tech giant has touted the store’s reputation for security as it faces pressure from government regulators to loosen some of its policies.

With more than 800 million visitors a week globally, protecting the marketplace “requires constant vigilance” as fraudsters continue to evolve their tactics, the tech giant said. 

The job includes terminating suspicious app-developer accounts; reviewing submitted apps for security, reliability and user experience; rejecting and deactivating problematic customer accounts; and blocking pirated apps from launching on Apple devices. 

The company also keeps a close eye on payment methods: “Last year, Apple identified nearly 4.7 million stolen credit cards and banned over 1.6 million accounts from transacting again,” the news release said.

Another area requiring constant attention, Apple said, is manipulation of App Store rankings.

“Apple takes swift action against apps that attempt to cheat the system and boost their ranking on the App Store, such as by using bots or paid services to artificially inflate download numbers or post fake five-star reviews,” the company said.

As TechCrunch noted, the fraud statistics come as Apple is preparing for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month. The company also is adapting to European Union rules requiring it to allow Apple device users to access third-party app stores. The EU has imposed fines on the company over how it handles revenues generated by apps.

Last year, Apple said it blocked about $1.8 billion in fraudulent App Store activity during 2023.