iOS developer | Swift | SwiftUI
Joined June 2020
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Apple, this deserves closer look and review.
These Apps are impersonating @MicrosoftTeams and @Zoom by calling them "Join for" Teams/Zoom.
- Both apps use same naming format < Join (Verb) for Teams/Zoom >
- Apps are misleading users into downloading, by using similar looking App icons, Graphics, trademarked terms, colour schemes, screenshot formats and text.
- At one point the Teams app literally had "Microsoft Teams" in title and screenshots. App review team can confirm this on their end.
- All updates on both apps are submitted for review with "critical bug fixes" as review notes, to bypass or subvert the regular app review process.
- Both apps show hard paywall and ask for rating right at launch so users can't realise that its not an official app before paying
- There are hundreds of user reviews where users are bashing actual @MicrosoftTeams and @Zoom which shows that these apps are misleading users.
App Review Guidelines: 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 5.2.1, 2.3.7, 2.3.3, 2.3.9, 2.3.1(a), 5.2.2
Developer Code of Conduct: 5.6, 5.6.2
@Apple @AppStore
Apps 🔍:
Teams: apps.apple.com/us/app/join-f…
Zoom: apps.apple.com/us/app/join-f…
#MacAppStore #AppStore #teams #microsoft #zoom #ScamApps #ConsumerProtection #CyberSecurity
Here is some more evidence for the @AppStore team, of the 2 fraudulent apps impersonating @MicrosoftTeams and @Zoom
Forcing users into paying with paywall right after launch, before they realise it’s not the official apps. Review prompt shows right after the launch to get the rating asap.
@AppStore @Apple really need to improve the App review guidelines enforcement. How can an app call itself “Microsoft Teams” or “Zoom”
Reviews shared above are literally bashing the actual software providers, which shows that the users are being mislead by metadata of these apps.
#MacAppStore #AppStore #teams #microsoft #zoom #ScamApps #ConsumerProtection #CyberSecurity
Hector retweeted
Apple, this deserves closer look and review.
These Apps are impersonating @MicrosoftTeams and @Zoom by calling them "Join for" Teams/Zoom.
- Both apps use same naming format < Join (Verb) for Teams/Zoom >
- Apps are misleading users into downloading, by using similar looking App icons, Graphics, trademarked terms, colour schemes, screenshot formats and text.
- At one point the Teams app literally had "Microsoft Teams" in title and screenshots. App review team can confirm this on their end.
- All updates on both apps are submitted for review with "critical bug fixes" as review notes, to bypass or subvert the regular app review process.
- Both apps show hard paywall and ask for rating right at launch so users can't realise that its not an official app before paying
- There are hundreds of user reviews where users are bashing actual @MicrosoftTeams and @Zoom which shows that these apps are misleading users.
App Review Guidelines: 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 5.2.1, 2.3.7, 2.3.3, 2.3.9, 2.3.1(a), 5.2.2
Developer Code of Conduct: 5.6, 5.6.2
@Apple @AppStore
Apps 🔍:
Teams: apps.apple.com/us/app/join-f…
Zoom: apps.apple.com/us/app/join-f…
#MacAppStore #AppStore #teams #microsoft #zoom #ScamApps #ConsumerProtection #CyberSecurity
Hector retweeted
This is how I used to build iOS apps when I first started out.
We are not the same 💀
Every day, you do the same things, over and over.
Opie puts everything you use at your cursor.
With App rings and custom actions you can chain tons of workflows together One flick, and it’s done without much losing context.
It’s fast, It’s fun and it just works
We love using it daily
opies.io
Apple, this app is impersonating @AnthropicAI Claude AI by calling itself “Clade AI”.
This deserves a closer look, since its confusing users by using a similar icon and name
Thats exactly how misleading apps gain trust, similar branding, app icon, screenshots and metadata.
App Review Guidelines: 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 5.2.1, 2.3.7, 2.3.3, 2.3.9, 2.3.1(a), 5.2.2
Developer Code of Conduct: 5.6, 5.6.2
@AppStore @Apple
App link:
apps.apple.com/pk/app/clade-…
#MacAppStore #AppStore #Gmail #Google #ScamApps #ConsumerProtection #CyberSecurity
Hector retweeted
Everyone is handing thier ASO to AI agents this week. Before you do, check 4 things yourself. Takes 10 min in App Store Connect:
- impressions by source. Search or Browse? if search is flat, keywords are your problem
- tap-through. impressions to product page views. low = icon, title, first screenshot
- conversion. page views to installs. low = screenshots and reviews, not keywords
- deletions. people leaving in the first days. the promise and the app dont match
If your leak is #3, no keyword agent on earth fixes it. It just sends more people into the leak....
Agents are cool, I am not hating. But they pour traffic in, they dont tell you where it leaks.
This is exactly why I am building FunnelHound, to see all 4 on one screen instead of 5 tabs.
Which one is your weakest? Drop it below and I'll tell you what I would try first :)
#buildinpublic
Hector retweeted
got the same "happy" message 3 weeks ago
1 app deleted. account pending termination
no details, just 10 potential problems (but we won't eloborate)
i messaged them 5 times = 0 response
really cool strategy to ban every indie developer :)
All of my iOS apps were removed and the account is in pending termination.
It's been almost 3 weeks, I have contacted support about 5 times now, they say they don't have any visibility and can't help.
I have not evaded the review process.
If you have a contact at apple, I'd be very grateful.
If your account was suspended, please DM me any insights you have into what will happen.
I'll appreciate any retweets too!
@RevenueCat
Every developer building for @AppStore should read this article.
Pretty neat insights in this article
phillipshoemaker.substack.co…
All of my iOS apps were removed and the account is in pending termination.
It's been almost 3 weeks, I have contacted support about 5 times now, they say they don't have any visibility and can't help.
I have not evaded the review process.
If you have a contact at apple, I'd be very grateful.
If your account was suspended, please DM me any insights you have into what will happen.
I'll appreciate any retweets too!
@RevenueCat
Hector retweeted
All of my iOS apps were removed and the account is in pending termination.
It's been almost 3 weeks, I have contacted support about 5 times now, they say they don't have any visibility and can't help.
I have not evaded the review process.
If you have a contact at apple, I'd be very grateful.
If your account was suspended, please DM me any insights you have into what will happen.
I'll appreciate any retweets too!
@RevenueCat
Hector retweeted
🚨 Mac App Store FRAUD — Caught in 4K
Neural Techlabs claims their app is running “GPT-5.4”
But inside the app? It literally responds:
👉 “Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 family”
This isn’t a mistake — it’s blatant deception.
📉 What’s really happening:
• Marketing: GPT-5.4 (premium, expensive)
• Reality: GPT-4.1 mini/nano (cheap, cost-optimized)
Users are being baited with high-end AI claims and served downgraded models.
And this isn’t their first time 👇
Neural Techlabs has already been linked to repeated scam apps impersonating AI brands on the Mac App Store
⚠️ Pattern:
• Fake / inflated model claims
• Misuse of OpenAI branding
• Re-uploading deceptive apps after removals
This is systematic App Store abuse — not a one-off.
Apple review is failing. Users are paying for something they’re not actually getting.
App Link: apps.apple.com/app/ai-chat-b…
Hector retweeted
I am 110% sure that app reviewers are taking kick backs.
Look at that misleading app icon 🤯
Who is approving these apps? @AppStore @Apple
#1 app on mac AppStore in business category is in violation of at least these app review guidelines:
4.1 (c)
2.3.9
5.2.1
2.3.7
Developer code of conduct:
4.1(b)
5.6.3
You search for “google chrome” and the first thing you see is this app. Thats clearly misleading users for actual google chrome.
Same old pattern again.
Release your app, it won’t get ranked.
Get the competition removed by calling every other app scam.
Release your own apps back again. 🫡🫡
Hector retweeted
‼️ Indie developers are idiots. They hunt niche, develop apps and then work their asses off to market them.
Its very simple, just infringe on @AnthropicAI and make quick $$$ fool innocent users. Lets see if @Apple @AppStore employees are actually on X and see posts.
Or they are just sell outs?
apps.apple.com/pk/app/ai-cha…
‼️ Indie developers are idiots. They hunt niche, develop apps and then work their asses off to market them.
Its very simple, just infringe on @AnthropicAI and make quick $$$ fool innocent users. Lets see if @Apple @AppStore employees are actually on X and see posts.
Or they are just sell outs?
apps.apple.com/pk/app/ai-cha…