Apple said its App Store prevented more than $2 billion in fraudulent transactions last year.
The tech giant said on Thursday (May 27) it was part of a larger anti-fraud effort, with the deal worth more than $9 billion over the past five years.
“Keep the App Store's security market requires constant vigilance as bad actors continue to evolve their tactics to deceive users,” Apple said in a press release.
“These threats range from deceptive apps designed to steal personal information to fraudulent payment plans that attempt to exploit users,” the company added. “Apple has adopted a comprehensive approach to combat fraud on the App Store, and teams across the company are working to detect, investigate and prevent malicious activity from reaching users.”
According to the release, Apple terminated more than 146,000 developer accounts last year due to fraud issues and rejected enrollment for another 139,000 developers, making it impossible for fraudsters to submit their apps to the App Store.
Additionally, the company's app review program deleted more than 37,000 apps in 2024 for fraudulent activity. Apple also removed more than 143 million fraudulent ratings and reviews from the App Store last year, as well as more than 7,400 apps in App Store Charts while retaining nearly 9,500 fraudulent apps appearing in App Store search results.
“These actions in turn benefit reputable developers, escalating the competitive environment and allowing them to thrive on the App Store,” the company said.
In other fraud prevention news, Pymnts wrote last week that consumers have evaded the trend of plastic cards to avoid leading the way in cybercriminals.
According to the PYMNTS Intelligence/Elan report, “The Evolution of Digital Payment: Virtual Cards Ready to Take Off”, 42% of consumers in the U.S. have used virtual cards in the past six months, while an astonishing 65% of consumers report that they may use one within next year.
“What drives growth? It's one-third of consumers (36%) who have experienced fraud and are now more likely to use payment methods,” Pymnts wrote. “This shift reflects an important behavioral shift: In an era where consumers' desire for security, flexibility and control catalyzes a shift in which fraud and data breaches are no longer assumptions but millions of personal reality.”
