Apple says App Store blocked $2.2 billion

Apple said on May 20 that its App Store blocked more than $2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions in 2025, part of an annual safety update the company uses to show how it polices apps, payments and developer accounts. The company said the six-year total of blocked transactions has now exceeded $11.2 billion. (apple.com) Apple also said its App Review process handled more than 9.1 million submissions in 2025 and rejected more than 2 million of them. ### Where does the $2.2 billion figure come from? Apple said the $2.2 billion covers “potentially fraudulent transactions” it prevented during 2025 across the App Store. The company did not present the number as confirmed consumer losses, but as transactions it said were stopped before completion. (apple.com) The May 20 newsroom post said the 2025 figure extends a six-year total above $11.2 billion. Apple has published similar annual fraud-prevention tallies in prior years; its 2025 report said the App Store had prevented more than $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the previous five years, including more than $2 billion in 2024 alone. (apple.com) ### What else did Apple say it blocked? Apple said it rejected more than 2 million app submissions in 2025 for failing to meet its standards on security, reliability and user experience. MacRumors, citing Apple’s figures, said App Review evaluated more than 9.1 million submissions during the year. (apple.com) SecurityWeek, summarizing Apple’s report, said the company also blocked more than 1.1 billion fraudulent account creations in 2025. Apple said its trust and safety teams targeted fake developer accounts, malicious software distribution and payment fraud as part of a broader screening system that combines automated detection with human review. (apple.com) ### Why is Apple publishing these numbers now? Apple released the figures one day after Google I/O and less than three weeks before its Worldwide Developers Conference begins on June 8. The company’s newsroom post framed the report as an update on App Store protections for users and developers. (apple.com) MacRumors said Apple has issued a fraud-analysis release in May or early June for several consecutive years. This year’s report also arrives as Apple continues to defend the App Store’s review and payment rules in policy and antitrust disputes over how tightly it controls app distribution and in-app commerce. (securityweek.com) ### How does Apple say the review system works? Apple said App Review uses both human reviewers and automated tools to examine apps and updates before and after they reach the store. The company said those checks are aimed at detecting scams, deceptive payment flows, malicious code and other policy violations. (apple.com) AppleInsider, citing the same report, said Apple described artificial intelligence as one of the tools supporting its human-led review process. Apple’s own post said the protections also extend to ratings, reviews and account activity, not only app binaries submitted for approval. (macrumors.com) ### What comes next? Apple’s next major public event is WWDC 2026, scheduled to begin on June 8, where the company is expected to present software updates across its platforms. The App Store fraud figures remain available in Apple’s May 20 newsroom post, which is the company’s primary public accounting of the 2025 safety data. (appleinsider.com) (apple.com)