Apple blocks $2B in App Store fraud in 2024, tally tops $9B over five years

Apple has disclosed new figures detailing the extent of its fraud prevention efforts on the App Store, reporting that more than $2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions were blocked in 2024 alone. The announcement, released through the company’s annual App Store fraud analysis, comes at a time when Apple’s marketplace rules are facing increasing regulatory and developer scrutiny.

According to Apple, its security systems and review processes have prevented over $9 billion in fraud since 2019. In the past year, the company intercepted nearly 2 million risky or deceptive app submissions and terminated over 146,000 developer accounts due to fraud concerns. An additional 139,000 developer enrollment attempts were rejected before any apps could be submitted.

Apple also took action on the user side, blocking over 711 million attempts to create fraudulent customer accounts and deactivating nearly 129 million accounts deemed risky. These accounts were reportedly involved in activities like inflating app rankings, manipulating reviews, or attempting payment fraud.

Outside the App Store itself, Apple targeted unauthorized distribution channels. More than 10,000 illegitimate apps were found and blocked on pirate storefronts—many of which included malware or pirated content. In just the past month, nearly 4.6 million attempts to install or launch apps outside of authorized marketplaces were halted.

Apple’s App Review process remains a central pillar in its fraud prevention strategy. In 2024, the company reviewed more than 7.7 million app submissions, rejecting over 1.9 million for security, privacy, or reliability violations. More than 400,000 submissions were denied for privacy breaches, while over 320,000 were flagged as spam, copycat apps, or misleading in nature.

Hidden features in apps—code that activates post-review to bypass Apple’s scrutiny—were also a focus. Over 43,000 submissions were rejected for containing such concealed functionality. In total, more than 37,000 apps were removed after being found to be part of fraudulent schemes.

Fake reviews and manipulated download stats have long been a challenge for platform integrity. Apple says it removed 143 million fraudulent ratings and reviews in 2024. It also pulled over 7,400 apps from the App Store charts and nearly 9,500 apps from search results for attempting to deceive users.

In terms of payment protection, Apple claims it stopped 4.7 million stolen credit cards from being used on the platform last year, banning over 1.6 million accounts from transacting again. It attributes some of this success to secure transaction methods like Apple Pay, which avoids storing or sharing credit card information.

Despite the expansive efforts, Apple’s announcement arrives amid intensified global scrutiny over its App Store policies, especially those concerning in-app payments and third-party app distribution. Developers and regulators have criticized the company for restrictive policies they argue stifle competition and innovation.