Overview
- Apple pulled Freecash after TechCrunch sought comment, citing rules 3.1.2(a) and 2.3.1 that ban bait-and-switch tactics and misleading marketing.
- The app remained available on Google Play at the time of reporting, and Google said it was reviewing a listing that appeared under a different developer ID.
- Freecash climbed to No. 2 on the U.S. App Store after TikTok ads claimed users could earn $35 an hour for watching videos, but it paid small sums for playing promoted games.
- Security firm Malwarebytes reported that the app’s policy allowed collection of sensitive data, including race, religion, sexual orientation, health, and biometrics, as it worked to match users to paid game installs.
- Third-party market data indicates the operator re-entered Apple’s store in 2024 by rebranding an existing app from another developer, a known tactic used to get around earlier removals.