EU asks Apple for details on handling of fraudulent (fake finance) apps
The European Commission has requested detailed information from Apple about how the company detects and removes fraudulent apps from the App Store, following a rise in fake financial applications that target consumers. The request was reported by major outlets and was confirmed by EU sources.
Key points
- The Commission’s request aims to understand Apple’s detection, removal and prevention processes for scam apps affecting consumers.
- Henna Virkkunen, EU Vice‑President for Technical Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said the Commission is “checking that tech companies like Apple take all their efforts to detect and prevent” fraudulent activity.
- This is an information‑gathering step that could lead to investigations or enforcement under EU rules such as the Digital Services Act.
- Apple has previously stated strong App Store protections and reported preventing large sums in fraud; the company may be asked to provide technical and operational details.
Sources and further reading
- European Commission press release (official): https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1085
- MacRumors coverage: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/23/eu-apple-fraud-prevention-query/
- 9to5Mac report: https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/23/apple-under-legal-scrutiny-in-the-eu-over-scam-apps/
- Financial Times report (paywalled): Financial Times (paywalled)
What to watch next
The Commission may request technical documentation, incident logs, and information on Apple’s app review and monitoring systems. Depending on the responses, the matter could escalate to formal investigations or enforcement under EU digital rules.
If you use finance apps, check reviews, developer details and permissions, and enable two‑factor authentication where available. Report suspicious apps to Apple immediately.
Questions for readers: Do you think Apple does enough to stop fake apps? What would you like regulators to require? Share your thoughts below.