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Zack Sheppard
@zack.computer

Came across a weird scam on the Apple app store - apps that are advertising themselves openly as casino/gambling apps in ad networks, but then the app listing page has been camouflaged so that they can evade Apple's gambling and age restrictions (downloadable by kids as young as 4).

Zack Sheppard
@zack.computer

One for a fish-themed slot machine has an app store page listing itself as "Gill Guru" an ai-powered "fishing mentor." Another for an Egyptian-themed slot has an app page that pretends to be a historical reference app. And I'm sure this is an iceberg tip and there are plenty more.

Zack Sheppard
@zack.computer

I'm interested by these cropping up for two reasons. First because the "report a problem" link has been removed from app store pages, so now the only way to report an app like this is to install it on your device. Secondly because the Epic v Apple case was in the news as recently as today.

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Zack Sheppard
@zack.computer

A big part of that case has been Apple's promise that the walled garden of a reviewed app store is to keep the store a safe place. However, I don't believe anyone in app review even opened these apps because literally the only thing the app does is open a web browser to an online casino...