WARNING: The scammers are after your money, again

Do the above images look familiar? Well you might be forgiven, for thinking I was posting about one of the scam app that were recently highlighted here on the iPhoneography blog, but no, these attractive looking screenshots are from a new app called "Camera Plus - Frames and Filter Effects". Just like the last batch of scam apps (which still haven't been removed by Apple), this one has a limited and sketchy description, is priced at $2, has 24, yes that's right, 24 5 star reviews in the US App Store.

Just as before, stay clear of this app, and be wary of other new apps that may appear over the coming days.

Comments

[melia]

thanks glyn

[Skip Hunt]

Why isn't Apple doing something about this? Seems like they would have a team devoted specifically to making sure BS like this doesn't happen.

thx.

[Andy]

Agreed, I simply don't understand why Apple lets this continue. And the many 16 megapixel scam apps are still there too, I believe.

[Eric Schatz]

I think Apple would leave this app in the store if it doesn't do anything malicious or otherwise violate the terms...since Apple gets it's cut of the two bucks.

[Steve]

I guess there trying to have a Merry Christmas at our expense

[Dev]

I am an app developer and these things are very disturbing for developer's as well. We see them keep coming every now and then and occupying the top ranks in the AppStore in all major markets. Ranks (or being on top 25, 50, 100 etc.) are very important for an app to get downloads. You get a good rank only after putting a lot of hard work on your apps. Seeing this kind of scam apps keep coming and pushing your rank down is very disturbing and demoralizing.

[espekayen]

The fact that they've used an attractive woman in their screen shots is a very clever move. That alone should guarantee a few sales. Sex sells; always has and always will.

I'm amazed that Apple have not done anything about these apps. It's almost as if they condone it. Shocking stuff.

[Erickson]

I just noticed that this app is now listed in the top 25 with 416 5-star ratings (but no written reviews). But Apple does not seem to care about such things.

I contacted Apple regards to a different photo app that distorts pictures without saving the promised effects. Every negative review was buried under a group of 5-star reviews that were posted or reposted, saying the same thing. The developed also posted an announcement in the reviews and on the main page accusing me of slander, fraud, wrongdoing and threatened to somehow investigate me. Apple told me that they could do nothing and suggested that I contact the developer - which of course I had done.

The bottom line is that the review system appears to be broken and to me 5-star reviews and ratings are simply a warning that there may be problems with the app.