The news: OpenAI’s Sora iOS app sparked a wave of creative excitement—and an equally fast wave of scams. Exclusive to iOS and the web, Sora quickly climbed to the top of Apple’s download charts last week.

But within days, the App Store was swarming with fake “Sora” and “Sora 2” apps, many hastily rebranded to ride the surge in interest. Appfigures found more than a dozen impostors that collectively amassed nearly 300,000 installs and more than $160,000 in revenues before Apple stepped in, per TechCrunch.

Why it’s worth watching: Scammers aren’t just chasing clicks—they’re also hijacking brand equity in real time. The speed and sophistication of these fake apps expose growing cracks in app store oversight.

• The pattern of opportunism isn’t new. When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, hundreds of copycat “fleeceware” apps flooded iOS and Android stores, charging users for low-value or unrelated services under the ChatGPT name.
• Similarly, during crypto’s 2024 resurgence, fraudulent apps mimicking MetaMask or “Quantum AI” wallets lured investors through fake endorsements, deepfake ads, and stolen logos.

Zooming out: These scams reveal how innovation is outpacing platform safeguards. Many apps had existed under different names and rebranded overnight to hijack the Sora keyword surge. 

Despite Apple’s screening, several impostors remain live—evidence of how scammers can evade safeguards and capitalize on AI hype and consumer curiosity before they get caught.

What this means for brands: The Sora scam surge is a warning shot for every brand launching in the AI era. Viral success attracts fraud as fast as it attracts users. 

Opportunists exploit the gap between trademark enforcement, app verification, and public awareness—turning brand equity into bait.

Brands must act fast to secure trademarks, domains, and search terms tied to new launches or risk losing trust and revenues to copycats capitalizing on viral momentum.

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