Ahead of WWDC, Apple says App Store blocked $2B in fraud transactions last year, $9B in past 5 years

Core Insights - Apple announced it has prevented over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions in the past five years, with $2 billion in 2024 alone [1][5] - The release of these metrics serves to highlight the benefits of the App Store while reminding developers of the risks associated with alternative payment methods [2][3] - Apple terminated over 146,000 developer accounts and rejected 139,000 enrollments due to fraud concerns in 2024 [7] Fraud Prevention Metrics - Apple blocked nearly 2 million risky app submissions in 2024 [1][7] - The company rejected over 711 million customer account creations and deactivated nearly 129 million customer accounts last year [7] - Apple stopped nearly 4.6 million attempts to install or launch apps outside the App Store or approved third-party marketplaces [10] Developer Considerations - Larger apps like Fortnite and Spotify have quickly adopted new payment functionalities, while smaller developers remain cautious due to potential financial risks [4][11] - Early data suggests that small businesses may not benefit financially from switching to their own payment systems [11] - Apple's App Store commissions are positioned as a trade-off for security, hosting, and fraud prevention services [10][12] Market Context - Under the EU's Digital Markets Act, alternative app stores are now accessible, which may expose developers to piracy risks [9] - Apple's metrics aim to reinforce the value of the App Store in a changing market landscape where developers have more options [13]