Three fake crypto apps downloaded from the App Store tricked users into lost more than $1.3 million led. Three people who used Digicoins, SolLuna and Forex5 applications filed a lawsuit against Apple, holding Apple responsible for their losses. The plaintiffs claimed that Apple did not conduct sufficient checks when accepting applications to the store and misled users with security promises. Case, App Store security brought Apple’s responsibility towards third-party developers back into discussion.
Sandeep Kapil, Gabriela Gomez and Lisa Sallen downloaded the apps directly from Apple’s official store and not from independent websites. Therefore, all three users thought that the applications were controlled by Apple and considered safe. However, fraudsters directed users to pay increasingly higher amounts under the guise of professional investment services. When withdrawal requests started, applications started asking for additional taxes, transaction fees and security payments.
Scammers first contacted users through social media accounts, investment groups and direct messages. Then, they introduced themselves as financial experts or investment advisors and promised high profits. However, it strengthened the sense of trust by directing users to certain crypto applications available on the App Store. The apps showed fake profit figures on the screen after small investments and encouraged larger money transfers.
This method is similar to the long-term method of gaining trust known as “pig butchering” in international fraud files. Scammers first communicate regularly with the victim, then gradually increase the deposited amount by showing fake winnings. Moreover, while the account balance on the application screen grows, real money is already transferred to accounts controlled by fraudsters. When the victim wants to withdraw his money, the system requests a new payment called tax, commission or account opening fee.
Sandeep Kapil’s claim involves the highest individual loss in the case file. In August 2023, Kapil joined the online investment group run by a person using the name Kevin Wilson. The group manager asked Kapil to download the Digicoins app and increase his cryptocurrency investments over time. Total amount Kapil transferred to the app 1 million 236 thousand 935 dollars rose up.
Apple’s review process is at the center of the case
Digicoins in Kapil’s account at the end of January 2024 for approx. Assets of 1 million 466 thousand dollars showed that it was present. However, the app cut off access to the account in February and soon stopped working altogether. Thus, Kapil could not transfer the balance he saw on the application screen to another account or convert it into cash. The lawsuit argues that the investment values displayed by Digicoins are not based on actual transactions.
Gabriela Gomez, on the other hand, downloaded the Digicoins and SolLuna applications from the App Store around October 2023. When Gomez wanted to withdraw the money from her SolLuna account, the application 10 thousand dollars tax payment he demanded. Then new payment requests came for different reasons and Gomez could not access the money in her account. Gomez, a total of two applications He lost around 72 thousand dollars transferred to the court file.
Gomez then reported the SolLuna app to Apple, and the company removed it from the App Store within a few days. However, according to the lawsuit, Apple did not directly send a fraud alert to users who had previously downloaded the application. Gomez also claimed that he notified Apple about Digicoins, but the application remained in the store until February 2024. This claim Apple fake app It raises the question of how quickly it acts after receiving its notifications.
Lisa Sallen also invested in cryptocurrencies using Digicoins and Forex5 applications. Sallen stated that when he tried to access his account in the application, he encountered a routine maintenance message. Later, both the application and customer service stopped communication completely. The total loss that Sallen stated that he experienced through Digicoins was approximately for 60 thousand dollars reached.
All three users say that they see the availability of applications in Apple’s official store as an important sign of trust. Apple, on the other hand, defines the App Store as a controlled area where users can safely find applications. The company clearly states that each application is reviewed by expert teams and scanned for malware. It also requires apps to meet security, privacy, performance and legal compliance rules.
Apple’s App Review Guidelines document examines applications in the store under the headings of security, performance, commercial model, design and law. The rules do not allow apps that trick users, impersonate other developers, or steal personal data. In addition, Apple demands that developers fully demonstrate all features of the application to the review team. Developers offering financial and crypto services must also have the necessary licenses in the regions where they operate.
Plaintiffs ask why Apple approved the apps if Digicoins, SolLuna, and Forex5 did not meet these requirements. He also argues that the company’s own security disclosures directly increase trust in software on the App Store. Thus, the case addresses the fraudsters’ crimes and Apple’s platform liability under two separate legal headings. The court has not yet made a final decision on Apple’s liability for these losses.
Malicious developers can hide the true purpose of the application by displaying simple and harmless functions during inspection. It can then transform the application into a financial fraud tool by changing the contents on the server side. Apple also admits that some developers later use applications disguised as games or calculators for different purposes. This method allows applications that pass the first version review to offer completely different content later.
According to the data published by Apple in May 2026, the company will only expect approximately Removed 59 thousand applications due to fraud. It also reviewed more than 9.1 million application and update applications and rejected more than 2 million applications due to violations of the rules. The company blocked more than 371 thousand applications from entering the store with duplicate or misleading content. More than 443 thousand applications that violated privacy rules did not pass the review stage.
Apple also through 2025 Blocked more than $2.2 billion in suspicious transactions explained. The total number of potential fraudulent transactions that the company said it has prevented in the last six years exceeded $11.2 billion. These figures show that the App Store consistently controls a large amount of app and payment traffic. But the plaintiffs argue that the volume of oversight does not eliminate Apple’s liability for individual apps.
Kapil and other plaintiffs filed class action claims On December 20, 2024 Submitted to the US Federal Court for the Northern District of California. court file 5:24-cv-09304 He recorded it with his number. The complaint contains various claims under the California Unfair Competition Act and the California Consumer Remedies Act. Plaintiffs argue that Apple’s security disclosures constitute misleading and unfair trade practice.
The proposed class action class covers users who downloaded the Digicoins, SolLuna or Forex5 applications within the relevant legal period. The plaintiffs demand compensation for financial damages, court-ordered restrictions on Apple’s relevant practices, and corrective information to users. He also wants Apple to cover his attorney’s expenses and other compensation that the court deems appropriate. The plaintiffs also conveyed to the court their request for the file to be heard in front of a jury.
Court, On July 8, 2025 He granted Apple’s request to dismiss the case. In response, the judge granted the plaintiffs the right to resubmit the complaint text by changing it. The court later reviewed the Kapil case in Shin v. which contained similar allegations. Combined with Apple case. Merger decision On July 30, 2025 came and the legal process continued through the joint file.
The fake app case shows that store verification alone does not provide sufficient assurance, especially in investment and crypto services. Before downloading a finance application, it is necessary to compare the developer name with the information on the company’s official website. Using the App Store link on the institution’s official website instead of accessing the application from search results reduces the risk. It is also necessary to examine the developer’s past practices, support address, privacy policy and company information.
Positive user reviews or professional screenshots do not alone prove the authenticity of the application. Scammers can use fake reviews, copied logos and interfaces that resemble real services. In particular, you should not make new payments to applications that require taxes, unlocking fees or security deposits to withdraw money. Legitimate financial institutions do not offer requests to open an investment account or pay taxes by sending money to a personal account.
When faced with a suspicious request, it is important to keep screenshots, correspondence and transaction records. It is then necessary to contact the bank, cryptocurrency service or card provider as soon as possible. It is also possible to send direct notifications about the application and payment transaction through Apple’s “Report a Problem” service. Even if the relevant application is deleted from the phone, payment records and correspondence can be used in legal applications.
The lawsuit questions Apple’s duty not only to remove the app from the store, but also to warn existing users. The plaintiffs argue that Apple should send a clear security notice to people who download questionable apps. Such notice may limit losses to users who continue to transfer funds. The court’s approach to this claim will be iOS scam It may affect the platforms’ notification obligation in cases of litigation.
Apple strives to ensure the security of the App Store through human review, automatic scanning and developer checks. However, claims about Digicoins, SolLuna and Forex5 show that some applications can bypass initial checks. The plaintiffs state to the court that Apple’s security statements play a decisive role in users’ financial decisions. united cause, app store securityIt proceeds through the topics of user notifications and platform responsibility.
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