//UPDATED: We've since been in contact with one of the companies involved, which tells us it's been reporting such frauds to Apple since October 2011, with no avail. More to follow.
With the App Store in the grip of what has quickly become a number of scandals - Clonegate, bot farms and claims apps can steal users' address books - ;there couldn't have been a worse time for a previous offender to make a reappearance.
Back in December, PG.biz reported on alleged App Store scammer Chinese studio Hoolai Games, which managed to storm the UK's top grossing charts with a freemium release delivered entirely in Chinese.
The game's user reviews were full of claims of fraud, with some suggesting they'd never downloaded the app, or paid for any of the title's in-app purchases (IAPs) - the most expensive of which came in at a weighty $99.99.
Now, the same app has made the trip across the Atlantic to the US, making an equally unannounced appearance at #3 in the App Store's top grossing chart.
Repeat offender
As before, the game is coupled by a whole host of negative reviews - many claiming they never download the app or approved any IAPs.
"Several in-app purchases posted, but not requested," reads one. "Scam, thieves. Shut them down."
"This thing made several in app purchases for me which I haven't started to create an account for," reads another.
Apple never commented when the game original sneaked into the UK's top grossing chart - climbing at high as #3 in the end - though it was claimed keystroke loggers preying on users with jailbroken devices were to blame.
Others suggested a batch of user login details had been stolen, with downloads and purchases made via the desktop version of iTunes and delivered to handsets without permission via iCloud.
Misery loves company
The prospect of mass user account theft will be weighing heavy on the minds of those at Apple right now.
Wang Tilan of alleged bot farm site TopDealApps has recently claimed to have amassed the login details of over 200,000 iTunes accounts in the US - albeit through legitimate means - raising inevitable questions regarding the state of App Store security.
Hoolai Games isn't the only Chinese developer currently gracing the higher echelons of the top grossing chart in the US, however.
Another game, also delivered entirely in Chinese by Shanghai MUHE, peaked at #11, again with user reviews accusing the app of hacking their details and making purchases without their permission.
And to cap the situation off, Happy City from ZheJiangYiJin is also currently sitting at #59, with claims of account hacking and "fraudulent charges" populating the game's reviews section.
As before, it remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the firms involved - if, indeed, they're guilty of fraudulent activity at all.
But as we've already seen with 'clone games' removed from the App Store such as Temple Jump and Pixel Story, and alleged bot farmed games - removed and since replaced - the lack of any public guidance from Apple about what's happening is part of the problem.
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Related Articles
Top Stories
News
2 hours, 12 minutes ago
Will your players earn you the Pocket Gamer People's Choice Award 2024?
News
4 hours, 40 minutes ago
NetEase’s Once Human opens up mobile pre-registrations after 13 million on PC
News
7 hours, 41 minutes ago
Sega reaches financial targets one full year ahead of schedule in record fiscal year
Feature
3 hours, 39 minutes ago
Case study: How Supercent’s games made it to the top in a stagnating hypercasual market
Feature
5 hours, 37 minutes ago
“There has been an increase in funding opportunities for African developers with more exciting times to come"
Events
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
For The Win 2024 | Europe | May 29th |
Unreal Fest Gold Coast 2024 | Australasia | May 29th |
Indie Craft K-Game Festival 2024 | Europe | May 31st |
GDCy Fest 2024 | May 31st |