Topic: A fake app in apple app store stole his life savings in bitcoin (Read 471 times)
This one is a very common way to earn some bitcoin for scammers. They create an app and upload it on app store or google store and wait for some people to download and use the app. Imagine 100K people downloading and using the app, at lest 500 newbies will actually use and trust the app. Now if you consider only 10 bucks per victim this would be 5000 bucks in total just for creating an stupid app to scam some money from the newbies which is really bug amount of money. The way we can stand against these scammers if to start educating the newbies and teach them how to stay safe from the scammers.
For this reason we have to be more careful about downloading any app from google play store or apple store. Besides, google and apple should take necessary steps to remove this kind of fake app. We should remember that our asset is more important than an app.
I think inspecting app like this kinda hard and takes too much time. I wonder what kind of method they use to inspect and filter these app but I assume the go through the code and inspecting it whether automatically or manually but there's always hit and miss since in programming an implementation could have various form. At this point it's just better to download app directly from the official website of these wallets provider. 
*snip*
The ratio of Android and Apple users aside, the fact is, it is indeed harder to get shady apps(or apps in general to be verified) into the Apple ecosystem. I know this from experience and from the few app developers that I know. But of course, no matter how strict a platform is, it doesn't necessarily mean that shady stuff isn't guaranteed to get blocked and isn't going to get in.
tldr; Apple is doing far better than Google in terms of blocking shady apps; but nothing is truly 100% scam-safe.
Nothing new this is why we have Scam Accusations boards and more to keep awareness to the other member also to the people about the fake application this is the reason why other people give a bad image to the bitcoin or in other coins because of that application which is not a legit or reliable only thing they do is to scam mostly the beginners. To make sure it's safe it's better to research the application and double-check if this is the legit one else report immediately so google or another app store will remove this app. Also, check the developer if the same as the original. AFAIK Apple has better application security than the other brands because they focus on the security for their users.
No, Scam accusations is for the forum strictly. To warn people of services and people who you can't tell could be scammers.
Fake apps? Fake websites? You just have to do your own protections. Bookmark correct websites. Use a password manager so you never need to enter passwords on fake websites. And apps. The worst of it all. Download only verified apps.
While fake apps aren't really anything new to us, there's actually something slightly different in this specific case— the fact that this scam app is on the Apple App Store. Most of such cases far mostly(probably even 99%) occur on the Android Play Store.
Of course, Android as an OS is far more exposed to malicious applications because almost 72% of smartphones have it - so it makes sense to constantly hear about fake apps in Google Play Store. But that doesn't mean they're not in the Apple Apps Store and that their verification system is any better and more efficient in that regard.
Even if the human factor is involved in checking all apps (and we know that algorithms do this), the one checking should know what it is about - the app in question does not have any malicious code, but only tries to trick the user into entering their seed - you and I would never fall for such a trick, right?
As for the Apple App Store, I believe everyone should read the following article which shows what one of the iOS developers thinks about this topic.
Apple’s App Store is hosting multimillion-dollar scams, says this iOS developer
Sad but true, I guess this was inevitable and we cannot get rid of these kinds of applications unless there will be someone who will report the fake application. It may be fault of downloading the platform because they cannot able to scrutinize each and every application registered on their platform but I can't blame them as well due to the fact it would hard to manage their numerous application. However, I also believe that it was the user's fault as well because they must have checked the app first before downloading it. My advice is that when are looking for a mobile version application, it is better to check out their official website because usually, they have a link that will direct you to their official mobile application like Binance for example.
and its actually takes shit ton of effort to get normal app that's not phishing or scam into the app store, apple must be joking. if any, he deserves to sue apple because if not for their app filtering method that's kinda broken he won't lose all the money.
People still believe in fishing apps and sites. Some things never changes after all this time...
differentiating nowadays' phishing apps isn't as easy as comparing an apple to orange, sometimes the phising app is very identical to the real app, and in this case the app coming from the app store where it's said to be filtered strictly by apple. 
This is very sad. Truth is, it can happen to anyone. Sometimes we may be confident that we know it, yet, there's still that chance of being scammed directly or indirectly. I just hope less - no one fall for these scammers.
Anyone would not want to fall victim to a fraud like Christodoulou, ironically the fake Trezor application can bypass Apple systems which are known to be very strong for their security. We'll never know the trap they set, they will always be looking for ways to make their victims suffer.Christodoulou misfortune will be a valuable experience for all of us to be even more careful when accessing wallets in applications that we have never used before.
Nothing new this is why we have Scam Accusations boards and more to keep awareness to the other member also to the people about the fake application this is the reason why other people give a bad image to the bitcoin or in other coins because of that application which is not a legit or reliable only thing they do is to scam mostly the beginners. To make sure it's safe it's better to research the application and double-check if this is the legit one else report immediately so google or another app store will remove this app. Also, check the developer if the same as the original. AFAIK Apple has better application security than the other brands because they focus on the security for their users.
Yeah but the op or whoever was the victim can't exactly accused anyone since this an app he/she installed on his own accord,
Perhaps he can accuse the dev of the app or Apple for negligence and allowing fake app to be listed on the App store, I doubt if this will generate a positive feedback,
I would believe that downloading an app from any App store should be a lot more secured than downloading from online, this apps should have gone through the necessary security checks before approval to be listed on the App store, but somehow fake apps still manage to find their way in, very sad.
It seems the apple app store can not check details for every app available on their store because there are thousands of more apps that are ready to download by the user. That will be the same as the google playstore, which has thousands of apps on their store. That will be the user responsible for always checking the validity of the apps before they download and install them on their mobile phone. Please make sure that you check on the official's website and ask if you are suspicious about the apps before you download because you do not know if that app is safe for your mobile phone or the app contains a virus or malware or something like that.
Nothing new this is why we have Scam Accusations boards and more to keep awareness to the other member also to the people about the fake application this is the reason why other people give a bad image to the bitcoin or in other coins because of that application which is not a legit or reliable only thing they do is to scam mostly the beginners. To make sure it's safe it's better to research the application and double-check if this is the legit one else report immediately so google or another app store will remove this app. Also, check the developer if the same as the original. AFAIK Apple has better application security than the other brands because they focus on the security for their users.
While installing an app from a store is common-place. Don't such applications ask or atleast mention the permissions that the user have to give to the app. I haven't used an Iphone but it apps on android specify the permissions they are asking for.
Even though it is hard to keep track of these, Isn't it obvious that those who allow apps to be whitelisted or hosted on the platform would atleast match the behavior of app in reality in comparison to what it claims to have access for the first time.
Somebody better versed in app development and security should comment on this? If its a cryptocurrency app, the only permission it should probably have is to use the camera for scanning address QR codes.
Even though it is hard to keep track of these, Isn't it obvious that those who allow apps to be whitelisted or hosted on the platform would atleast match the behavior of app in reality in comparison to what it claims to have access for the first time.
Somebody better versed in app development and security should comment on this? If its a cryptocurrency app, the only permission it should probably have is to use the camera for scanning address QR codes.
Common stuff that you would really experienced if you are a fan of downloading something without taking any precaution or being too careless on installing things came online.
You know that you do have something important on your mobile or pc then you should be at least aware that downloading something neither can be safe or bad thats why further in depth
analysis would really be needed.You should make at least yourself a little bit paranoid when it comes to these kind of probabilities and that will surely save you up.
This isnt something new about phishing and malware issues.Once you do get to a point where you are being too careless then that would most likely will happen to you.
You know that you do have something important on your mobile or pc then you should be at least aware that downloading something neither can be safe or bad thats why further in depth
analysis would really be needed.You should make at least yourself a little bit paranoid when it comes to these kind of probabilities and that will surely save you up.
This isnt something new about phishing and malware issues.Once you do get to a point where you are being too careless then that would most likely will happen to you.
For this reason we have to be more careful about downloading any app from google play store or apple store. Besides, google and apple should take necessary steps to remove this kind of fake app. We should remember that our asset is more important than an app.
They will remove but once they receive a huge number of reports but if not, they won't do it.I heard so many issues like these but both big companies did not take action as long as they receive money from the advertiser they will still publish this even though it is a phishing link or scam website.
Always double-check or even triple-check once had a transaction or if there is a visit that not commonly we visit.
This is very unfortunate, with those amount I should be somewhat knowledgeable already by what kind of app/security measures should I use/apply to my device(s) especially if I'm storing those wealth in my phone or even on a computer or hardware wallet.
Even with all the precautions the world if we install a phishing software or an application we mess up everything and this is the sole reason using phone to store any of your valuables is the best option and i would advice anyone from doing these blunders. It is unfortunate that someone would loose everything just because they installed some application in the apple store and they need to take responsibility for including phishing applications in their store while they take actions against some applications immediately for minor infractions. 
This is very unfortunate, with those amount I should be somewhat knowledgeable already by what kind of app/security measures should I use/apply to my device(s) especially if I'm storing those wealth in my phone or even on a computer or hardware wallet.
Apple would not name the developer of the fake Trezor app or provide the developer’s contact information. Apple wouldn’t say whether it was turning over the name to law enforcement or whether it investigated the developer further. Apple also wouldn’t say whether that developer had developed any other apps in the past or had connections to other developer accounts under different names.
WTF kind of PR response is this? A total of 1.6$ Million have been stolen through a fake app they have on their own app store and they aren't showing any kind of action for letting a fake Trezor app be available for download? Seriously a lot of people are too comfortable downloading things straight without looking for reviews and the rating as they trust both Google and Apple to have screened everything yet there is still a bunch of scams and fake apps popping around their app stores, the sad thing about here is both companies don't respond to their own users who got victimized by these fake apps. That's why if I am downloading apps I don't search it on the app store but go to the developer's website and click their app's link in their just for the peace of my mind.
For this reason we have to be more careful about downloading any app from google play store or apple store. Besides, google and apple should take necessary steps to remove this kind of fake app. We should remember that our asset is more important than an app.
Is this something new that we should be surprised about here on the forum? Well, anyone who thinks with their head knows that every app store (on any platform) is a source of malicious applications that are accepted as legitimate, but later their owners make modifications that make them malicious. Furthermore, we could say that those who look for trouble will find it in one way or another.
While fake apps aren't really anything new to us, there's actually something slightly different in this specific case— the fact that this scam app is on the Apple App Store. Most of such cases far mostly(probably even 99%) occur on the Android Play Store.
People still believe in fishing apps and sites. Some things never changes after all this time...
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