Apple Sued for Failing to Block Crypto ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams in App Store
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, Danyell Shin filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Apple, alleging the company failed to protect users from cryptocurrency scams on its App Store.
The lawsuit claims Apple’s inadequate app vetting process allowed fraudulent apps to proliferate, leading to significant financial losses for users.
The complaint accuses Apple of misleading consumers about the security of its App Store review process, enabling “pig butchering” scams. These schemes involve fraudsters posing as legitimate crypto trading platforms to deceive users into depositing funds, starting with small amounts and escalating to larger sums with promises of high returns. The lawsuit alleges no actual trading occurs, and victims’ funds are diverted to cybercriminals’ accounts.
Shin, an Illinois resident, claims she lost over $80,000 after downloading Swiftcrypt, an app marketed as a crypto trading platform, from the App Store in September 2024. According to the complaint, Shin transferred $80,000 into her Swiftcrypt account, which appeared to grow to $421,000 by January 2025. Days later, the app froze her account, and her funds disappeared.
The lawsuit cites a 2024 FBI Internet Crime Report, which reported $9.3 billion in losses from online crypto fraud. The plaintiff class, estimated to include 100 or more members, alleges Apple’s lax oversight allowed spoofing apps disguised as trading platforms to target consumers.
The complaint asserts Apple violated California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act by failing to properly vet or remove fraudulent apps from its store.
The case, assigned to Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins, seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, damages, and restitution for affected users.
Please contact BlockTribune for access to a copy of this filing.
