User profile for user: ScBritton
ScBritton Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Blatant false advertising in App Store mini-games

Numerous ads featured in games and other apps offered through the App Store contain blatant lies about the app/game. The biggest is, “and NO ADS!”


The demo mini-games end up nothing like the real game/app, and the games tend to be rigged to drain a less-cautious user’s bank account.


This type of thing should not only violate the App Store TOS, but should be illegal.


Who do I contact at Apple to get this point forcefully made?


i really wish there was a technology company that was end/user focused rather than constantly pandering to developers.


We need a return to ethical, non-deceptive business practices. This bait-and-switch approach needs to stop.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: false advertising in ads

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 07:47 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Mac Jim ID
Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 9
54,236 points

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 08:25 AM

The ads you see in games are not provided by Apple. You have many choices:

  • Delete any app you wish that provides ads.
  • Purchases require your authorization by double clicking the side button with the amount showing on the screen. That is a deliberate action on your part and you will not be charged at all without authorizing a purchase.
  • Write a review for the app in the App Store.
  • For a fraudulent/scam app, you can report that to Apple by going to reportaproblem.apple.com.
  • Contact the developer of the app displaying the Ad.
  • Some apps may always display ads, while others have the option for No Ads that requires an in-app purchase. That is a typical approach as Developers are not spending their own time and money to create apps and have them available for users to play without any way to recoup the costs they have spent on them, especially if they are free to download. Having the No Ads option, even if it requires an in-app purchase, is a feature that many will look for to streamline gameplay.
  • Before you download any game in the App Store, you can review the in-app purchases that the game includes so you know what to expect. One of those in-app purchases may be No Ads, so it should be no surprise that the app will contain ads with the option for removal, along with the price.
  • Contact the Ad Network providing the ad. Many games use the same Ad Networks and you can usually identify which one is being used by looking in one of the corners of the ad. For example, AdMob is a Google advertising platform and if they are displaying a false ad, contacting them would be the best approach to have that ad removed from their network that may be used in many different games.
  • Specifically for the rules on mini-games, review the App Submission Guidelines under section 4.7 for compliance.

App Review Guidelines - Apple Developer


View in context
2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Mac Jim ID
Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 9
54,236 points

Sep 15, 2025 08:25 AM in response to ScBritton

The ads you see in games are not provided by Apple. You have many choices:

  • Delete any app you wish that provides ads.
  • Purchases require your authorization by double clicking the side button with the amount showing on the screen. That is a deliberate action on your part and you will not be charged at all without authorizing a purchase.
  • Write a review for the app in the App Store.
  • For a fraudulent/scam app, you can report that to Apple by going to reportaproblem.apple.com.
  • Contact the developer of the app displaying the Ad.
  • Some apps may always display ads, while others have the option for No Ads that requires an in-app purchase. That is a typical approach as Developers are not spending their own time and money to create apps and have them available for users to play without any way to recoup the costs they have spent on them, especially if they are free to download. Having the No Ads option, even if it requires an in-app purchase, is a feature that many will look for to streamline gameplay.
  • Before you download any game in the App Store, you can review the in-app purchases that the game includes so you know what to expect. One of those in-app purchases may be No Ads, so it should be no surprise that the app will contain ads with the option for removal, along with the price.
  • Contact the Ad Network providing the ad. Many games use the same Ad Networks and you can usually identify which one is being used by looking in one of the corners of the ad. For example, AdMob is a Google advertising platform and if they are displaying a false ad, contacting them would be the best approach to have that ad removed from their network that may be used in many different games.
  • Specifically for the rules on mini-games, review the App Submission Guidelines under section 4.7 for compliance.

App Review Guidelines - Apple Developer


Reply

Blatant false advertising in App Store mini-games

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up