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View Full Version : Apple removes 1,011 apps and a developer



xxMATTGxx
08-12-2009, 11:07 PM
Apple
has sent out a strong warning to all developers in the AppStore today, when they removed a developer and 1,011 of his apps. The Chinese-based software maker was removed after he was reported by a user for getting users to write false ratings on his applications
.

One user detected the scam by a developer, Molink, where users had given a poorly written five-star rating review. The user also noticed that all of the applications created by Molinker were rated by the same users, with poorly written five-star reviews, boosting the developer's reviews, tricking people into purchasing the applications.

The suspicious user sent a letter to iPhoneography, a photography and videography blog, which than forwarded the letter to Apple's Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing. The letter described that Molink was distributing free copies of their applications to users, who would give a five-star rating, even boosting the application to the AppStore staff-favourite section.

Apple was swift to remove all of the 1,011 applications immediately off of the AppStore and ban the developer.

The user that spotted the scam first, SCW, asked that Apple give users a refund for the applications. No exact numbers of how many of Molinks applications were sold, or if Apple will issue a refund.

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/12/08/apple-removes-1011-apps-and-a-developer

Ouch, he sure did get owned by Apple for doing this. What does everyone think of this guy?

Jamesy
08-12-2009, 11:10 PM
I think people who make stupid apps should be banned anyway. Good on apple.

Callum.
08-12-2009, 11:13 PM
Depends how much he made from it. If he made more from people buying because they were high rated than the amount he would still being there, grats.

That's if he doesn't have to pay back or whatever.

Mint
11-12-2009, 09:27 PM
I have always thought about if any of the apps have fake reviews. Like when I'm just browsing the app store and I see an interesting app, it could have 5 people rating it poorly saying that it's not that good then someone who has rated it 5 stars saying how good it is. I'm glad Apple have taken action as I would not liked to be tricked into buying an application by fake reviews.

Lee
11-12-2009, 09:46 PM
Great thats he's been caught, did anybody here buy any of his Apps?

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