‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

The Google Play app review process now regularly takes longer than a week

374 points · 352 comments · inputmice

  1. davidmurdoch · · focus · HN ↗
    I'm partly to blame. I accidentally ran an illegal unregulated money transference service over Google Play.

    It let users cash out their Google Play Credits for real cash, which I automatically wired them.

    Someone then hacked in to a major bookstore chain, stole piles of Google Play Gift cards, activated them using their access, and used my app to get cash for them.

    Luckily, the whole thing blew up on me before I got in serious trouble, rightfully so, and the app was removed by Google, then an investigation followed. A ton of copycat apps popped up immediately after, then a few months months later Google announced their app review process.

    1. IshKebab · · focus · HN ↗
      How did you "accidentally" do something that was so obviously not allowed?
      1. davidmurdoch · · focus · HN ↗
        I didn't know what a "money transference service" was, and certainly didn't know this service that I didn't know about was highly regulated.

        I only created it because I had Google Play Credits that were gifted to me. I built an app to "convert" them to cash for myself. I had never built an app before. I was proud of it and tried to make it pretty and professional and useful for others, and used it as a learning experience. The listing on the Play Store was clear about what it was.

        I had to answer questions about what the API was being used for when I signed up for Dwolla (an actual regulated money transference service). I answered honestly. They approved it.

        The app sat unused with no downloads for years before someone on Reddit's `r/churning/` posted about it.

        1. IshKebab · · focus · HN ↗
          Right but... You've used gift cards before right? The whole point is that you can't convert them to cash. Not only that but Google/Apple gift cards are notorious for being used in fraud.

          I guess if you're young...

          1. com2kid · · focus · HN ↗
            There are multiple companies dedicated to turning gift cards into cash.

            It isn't some new idea, he just didn't follow all the rules doing it!

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.