If you have been keeping up with the news, or happen to witness the $999.99 app in the iTunes App Store, then you may know about Apple pulling it a day after it was released. Although the release of the app sparks some questions on Apple’s behalf, what is even more troubling is that 8 people actually purchased this app.

Dubbed “I Am Rich,” this app simply displayed a a red jewel on your iPhone screen. Nothing more, nothing less. But if you happen to glance a little to the right of the “I Am Rich” info screen, you would notice the $999.99 price tag. Ouch!

I wouldn’t have expected for anyone to purchase this app, but I was overwhelmed by the 8 individuals that purchased the app - accidently of course.

One gentleman explains that he was simply clicking the “buy” button to see if it was some kind of practicle joke. He found out otherwise when he noticed the $1000 charge on his credit card and promptly posted the review in the App Store:

THIS IS NO JOKE. “DO NOT BUY THIS APP AND APPLE PLEASE REMOVE THIS FROM THE APP STORE...APPLE MUST MUST MUST START TO SCREEN THESE FAKE APPS AND RIDICULOUS SCAMS.”

Even more disturbing is the fact that 7 other people followed his lead for reasons unknown. Six people from the US, one in Germany and one in France each purchased the app, all in the first 24 hours it was available on the App Store.

Armin Heinrich, it’s developer, still believes that he did nothing wrong.

“I have no idea why they did it and am not aware of any violation of the rules to sell software on the App Store,” Heinrich said in an e-mail.
“I am sure a lot more people would like to buy it—but currently can’t do so,” Heinrich said. “The App is a work of Art and included a ‘secret mantra’—that’s all.”

A secret mantra and to look at a red jewel is not worth $999.99. For that, you could buy an actual jewel, probably a few of them. Most people are calling it a scam because it is tough to see the decimal place sometimes, so one might mistake it for $9.99 or .99 and that was clearly intentional on the developers part.

What do you think?

Via: LA Times