Unexpected China downloads

I'm experiencing exactly the same thing, and I'm equally perplexed. There's been a sudden increase in downloads on the iPhone in China, with no activity or anything showing up in the stats.

I‘m experiencing the same too. My app also is free with some app in purchases, since last week I started to have an average of 50-60 downloads per day, at the moment there are more than 400 downloads I don’t see any use of the app in my analytics, all these downloads are from China and are being download through AppStore navigation apparently and not even one has bought anything in the through the app in purchases... very weird.

Let see if Apple gives us some info about what’s going on, as I think I’ve seen more threads about this ”issue”, in the meanwhile I’m thinking to remove the app from the China AppStore.

I have a similar thing going on.

But I have some numbers in Anaytics. They are smaller because the are

1) opt-in only

2) mobile only

Also I have one review from Chinese user. It's not a lot, but not a lot of people usually care to leave a review.

So I believe it's a real traffic. Perhaps Apple is tweaking ranking algorythms for China.

On the second thought -- it may be some virus spreading across the China, downloading apps for some malicious reason.

I am seeing this as well with my app. Downloads increased from 4-5 day in China to 114 yesterday in China. No increases in any other country. No indication that the Chinese downloads are being run. I created a case with Apple; I'm waiting to hear back. If anyone hears anything, I'd love to hear about it. Also, if anyone turns off their App in the Chinese App Store, I'd be interested to hear that as well.

I turned China off last Sunday 20 August.

For whatever reason US DL down by 30-40% since then.

Store Visits in the US nearly constant.

Strange.

Your U.S. downloads went down by 30-40% when you turned off China? That is very odd.

Same here. Went from 2-3 a day to about 60. All China. Changed from free to $1.00 and down loads went to 0. Apple needs to see what is going on!

Some type of fraud. Apple needs to investigate now.

I agree with voiceof reason, this is a huge issue. Apple needs to get on this right away, something very bad is happening in China in regards to these downloads.

My china downloads have now doubled my US downloads(and increasing), we are just a small radio station in Columbus. There is no other analytics to suggest that these downloads are being used in the app, for thee is no other activity in the stats in China, just the downloads.

Apple? what's goin on here??

I have removed China from the store availability. We will see if this fixes the problem.

It won't. I removed China days ago and the rediculous downloads continue. When reported to Apple they had me send reports and wrote back that the reporting system is working just fine. Yea... but it's reporting fake downloads just fine. "We can't provide any more information on customers." Good luck to us I guess.

Edit: I discovered China back on the list today. Either I didn't hit save or something much worse is going on.

think I've worked out why they're doing it. I have a small number of specialist apps for archaeologists - they've all had ridiculous numbers of downloads from China in the last few months. Taking a look at the AppStore view of each app the 'customers also buy' section now has several Chinese apps in it. no diea what they do but presumably the idea is too boost the Chinese apps downloads by tagging on to existing apps.

have turned off availability in China!

Interesting, never thought of that. Although I don't see the 'customers also buy' section. Under the 'related' tab, I just have 'more by..<company name>'

exactly the same with 3 of my free apps, about 60 downloads per day after 15th of August

same problem for me, suddenly getting hundreds of unexpected downloads from China, just downloads, not use of the app. What is this? Do you recommend switching off China?