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Fraudulent developers operating apps on their App Store.

A few weeks ago I downloaded some apps from the developer Joybox, Solitaire Master: Win Cash and a bingo app by the same developer. I came across these apps via an advert in an unrelated app and I downloaded the apps from the link given in the ad. It’s now come to light, when I’ve searched for the app on the App Store, so that I could write a poor, honest review, that there is no evidence of the apps in question? They do not appear in the search and yet when viewing my app history in my account within the App Store I can see the app’s in question and the dates they were download. Why then, do they not appear in any search results within the UK App Store? They’ve obviously got some form of ghost link to the Apple Store in the UK in order that customers are able to download them from there. Perhaps they aren’t officially listed in the UK App Store but the USA one, hence why they are not showing in our search results in the UK? I only downloaded these apps on 14th October 2024. It wasn’t a long time ago, why suddenly have they disappeared? Or were they never there in the first place? Although I have managed to post my app review by bypassing the search facility on the App Store and locating the app within my app history, I believe I’ve wasted my time!! As an Apple customer I’ve had my rights to give an honest review taken away from me, who is going to see my review if it doesn’t shown up any search results? It must be somehow ghosted somewhere, somewhere other than the App Store?? I don’t know? As I’ve said, I downloaded the app from a link to what I presumed was to Apple’s App Store. I’m hoping that Apple can answer that question. I’m certain, that if I check in a few days time, I won’t find any record of the review I have posted!!


link to app: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/solitaire-master-win-cash/id6471232743


APP REVIEW

SOLITAIRE MASTER: WIN CASH (Joybox Studios Limited)


I have been waiting for my £25 withdrawal from this app for nearly 2 weeks and yet their withdrawal times within the app says that it takes 7 days.  I’ve been waiting 14 days .  When you’ve made a withdrawal within the app, you can view your withdrawal status.  Initially it starts at 7 days, then 6, 5 days and so on, until it starts counting down in hours… My withdrawal has been telling me that it will be processed in 1 hour for over a week now !!! The app developer - Joybox has no intention of paying me my money. The app also claims to have a 24 hour VIP service, you get access to this when you deposit money.  Having a VIP status of VIP1 or above is supposed to give you access to 24 hour live chat help.  This is a lie, there is no live chat facility, it’s simply an automated bot responding in extremely poor English - and there is no live person (human) to speak to in the chat help.  The chat function doesn’t even work properly either .  When looking for help on why my withdrawal hasn’t been received,  the bot tells me to upload screenshots of my withdrawal and yet the app has no facility whatsoever to add screenshots to the chat facility, so it’s impossible to do what they are asking!! I therefore sent Joybox an email. I’m still waiting for a response!! This app is a blatant rip-off. They are misleading Apple customers and have no intention of delivering on what they promise. What are Apple going to do about it? They need to step in with companies operating apps on their App Store in this manner.  Acting fraudulently, misleading and not delivering on their promises to their customers - but do Apple really care? I don’t think so. I did raise this with apple at reportaproblem.apple.com and yet for cases such as this, they don’t even warrant a response.  After detailing your complaint to Apple and submitting your case, you are told that you will not receive a reply from Apple. Apple aren’t giving me any confidence whatsoever that they will even look at the case. Another issue that is very dodgy. I downloaded this app after seeing it on an advert in an unrelated app .  Yet upon searching for this app - Solitaire Master in the App Store, in order to write this poor review, it doesn’t appear in the search results. Why is that?? It’s probably because they don’t want their bad reviews to be seen in public!! I want to know why I can no longer download the app Solitaire Master: Win Cash from the Apple App Store. You can however download the same app from Joybox, it just has a different name - Solitaire Smash. I’m therefore posting this review on that app too. Please note, my review is for the app Solitaire Master - Win Cash and is not related to any other apps of a similar name by other developers on the App Store. 

Should anybody reading this know what channels I should go down to report this app then please let me know because this needs to stop. 

Posted on Nov 9, 2024 3:56 PM

Reply
4 replies

Nov 9, 2024 5:03 PM in response to Boswelll1975

Don't forget that EU allows third party app stores. Cancelling a subscription or support from a third party App Store is not possible if it is not managed by Apple. The app is available in the US App Store, but the experience in the EU may be different. You can view more information about third party App Stores and the risks you take here.

About alternative app distribution in the European Union - Apple Support

Fraudulent developers operating apps on their App Store.

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