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How the rewards app Freecash scammed its way to the top of the app stores

The rewards app Freecash rose to top charts on app stores by misleading users with promises of easy earnings, while secretly harvesting sensitive personal data including race, religion, and health information. Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes exposed the app as a data broker matching users with game developers. Both TikTok and Apple have taken action against Freecash, with Apple removing it from the App Store following investigative reports.

Background

Reward apps promising easy earnings have become increasingly popular, but often raise concerns about data collection practices and deceptive marketing. App store rankings can be manipulated through aggressive user acquisition tactics.

Source
TechCrunch
Published
Apr 15, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Score
7.0 / 10