TL;DR
- Apple reports the App Store blocked $2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2024 and $9 billion over the past five years.
- Nearly 2 million risky app submissions were rejected, plus ≥4.6 million attempts to sideload or launch unapproved apps thwarted.
- Apple terminated 146,000+ developer accounts, rejected 711 million customer sign-ups, and blocked 10,000+ pirate apps to protect users.
As WWDC 2025 nears, Apple has unveiled new fraud-fighting stats for the App Store, highlighting its defensive measures as a competitive advantage over other app distribution methods.
Fraud Defense in Numbers
Apple announced the App Store prevented $2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2024 alone and over $9 billion since 2019.
- ≈2 million suspicious app submissions blocked
- 4.6 million+ attempts to install or launch unapproved apps were stopped
- 146,000+ developer accounts terminated; 139,000 malicious developer enrollments rejected
- 711 million+ customer accounts rejected; 129 million deactivated
- 10,000+ pirate apps blocked on unapproved storefronts.
Why It Matters Now
Apple released these figures following its legal defeat to Epic Games, which now allows app developers to link external payment systems without Apple’s commission. Apple is emphasizing that built-in fraud protection, hosting, discovery, and secure payments are value-added services that offset its commission model.
The message is clear: developers might trade convenience for risk by bypassing Apple’s ecosystem.
App Store Fraud Prevention Metrics
| Metric | 2024 Figure | 5‑Year Total | Source |
| Fraudulent transactions blocked | $2 B | $9 B | [Apple Newsroom][1], [TechCrunch][2] |
| Risky app submissions blocked | ~2 M | — | TechCrunch |
| Attempts to sideload/unapproved installs | 4.6 M | — | TechCrunch |
| Developer accounts terminated | 146 K+ | — | [Apple Newsroom][1] |
| Malicious developer enrollments rejected | 139 K | — | [Apple Newsroom][1] |
| User accounts rejected | 711 M+ | — | [Apple Newsroom][1] |
| User accounts deactivated | 129 M | — | [Apple Newsroom][1] |
| Pirate storefront apps blocked | 10 K+ | — | [Apple Newsroom][1] |
Broader Context
Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, sideloading and third-party app stores will gain traction, but Apple warns that these alternatives may expose developers and users to significantly more risk, citing that many pirate storefronts host cloned or malware-ridden apps.
While U.S. developers can now bypass Apple’s payments, the company asserts that such freedom doesn’t eliminate fraud risk, especially for smaller teams without robust security infrastructure.
Final Take
Apple is reframing its 30% commission as a multifaceted service package that includes stringent fraud protection. As alternative payment systems gain legal footing, Apple’s message to developers is: “freedom comes at a cost.”
