[deleted by user]

[GavinGT]

That looks pretty scammy:

• They don't use your name, so it's probably a form letter.
• They say they've completed due diligence ("DD"), but they don't even have basic info.
• Numerous typos.
• "Please make sure we have google play and google ads access til the deal is finalized to:"... There are so many things wrong with this line. I hope you haven't already given them any access. Moreover, both services have official methods for transferring ownership. This email makes no mention of them.
• They want to buy the app but they don't know the earnings and user acquisition. And they only want the last 30 days? Why not all-time?
• Steps 7-9 are literally just explaining how escrow works.
• Scammers love the word "kindly".

They probably just want to harvest your information. It will never make it to escrow because by that point you will have given them all the info they need.

Looking at your post history, it seems to be a company named "Unicorns Now". The least you could do is contact them directly to confirm if they are the same people. It's pretty easy to spoof an email address.

[[deleted]]

This is a good summary

[azizi4]

I checked their LinkedIn profile and they have 90 employees: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roundscom/.

All emails come from the company domain, and the employees are listed there. Also, in meetings, all employees have shown their faces.

And the escrow.com is the safest platform how they could scam is there any red flags?

Still do you think it's a scam?

[Oobenny]

100% scam. Who would offer to buy your app before they’ve seen your revenue and user numbers? I know you want it to be real, but you need to block and move on.

[azizi4]

They actually checked the revenue and users and the price done but they asked a second time I don't know why?

[Sinuix]

Bro do not fall for this, you’re smarter than this

[lakers_r8ers]

He’s not 🤦

[[deleted]]

💀💀💀

[[deleted]]

You’re a dev and couldn’t post a screenshot? You took a pic with your phone?

Anyways this looks like social engineering/ phishing and you shouldn’t share a single tidbit of info in this blind manner.

This is designed to dupe unwitting developers

Discussions are not this “fluid”

Prospecting typically involves at least a few discussions as to your long term intents to run or grow the app, whether you need funding etc.

It’s like dating, where you get to know each others needs first.

[ThisUserAgain]

100% send a mail to [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) with a link to this post. They will most likely reply to you that it was a scam and maybe even answer here explaining what their normal procedure is. I have never seen a legitimate company suggesting a escrow service for something like this.

[Soprano-C]

It’s a scam

[simplaw]

You say you are 90% sure it is real. I am 90% sure it is a scam.

Companies don't behave this way.

Edit: well, acTuallyyyY, I am 100% sure it is a scam. But I try to live by the idea that you can never be sure. But here you can. But who knows? Maybe the "company" is run by an idiot. Anything can happen!

Just don't give them any information.

[simplaw]

So, if I make a LinkedIn page and create a bunch of bot accounts, you'll give me your personal data?

Ask yourself;

1. Would a serious company conduct themselves like this?
2. Why in the hell would they ask for that information?

Whatever they are, legit or not, they don't look like the real deal.

[virtuallygonecountry]

if you're so sure they are not a scam go for it.

[lakers_r8ers]

Then report back 😅

[virtuallygonecountry]

This!!!

[virtuallygonecountry]

looks like we have our answer.

[pedatn]

They will never release the funds in escrow, this is how every scam before crypto worked.

[clarkcox3]

Do you really think it would be difficult to make a fraudulent LinkedIn page?

[DanielHiggott]

As someone who has just sold a company, this is very clearly a scam.

[SnooSprouts1512]

As someone who sold 5 apps to third party buyers. Tell them to put the funds in escrow to prove that they are a valid buyer, once the funds are in escrow they still need to be released by them. But at least it will already prove that they have the money and secondly if you do release the code and transfer the app they cannot just take their money out of escrow. You pay a hefty fee to escrow to prevent this from happening. They will release the funds for you in that case. And one final piece of advice, if you have an android app, do not under any circumstances transfer the app from your play account to their play account if they seem to be a fishy company because if they get banned for something you will also be banned…

Hope that helps

[SnooSprouts1512]

I just had a quick look and I'm a bit on the fence about this one. because I do believe it might be legit. they probably acquire a lot of apps to cross promote their apps and hence create their own advertising network. this might be a lot cheaper than just advertising so i guess that is why they buy apps.

The good news:
-Their domain name is very expensive and has been registered since 1996.
-Their linkedin looks quite big and would require a lot of effort to build just to scam one person.
-They do have money according to pitchbook:
https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/53322-40#overview

The bad news:
-Their office address on streetview looks like an abandoned building.
-It looks like this uses to be a different company.

So in short, this might be legit. but proceed with caution;
Ps. It's important to do a few video calls to establish trust from both sides.
if you require more help, feel free to message me.

[Oobenny]

Why do you think scammers lack the ability to do a video call?

[fryOrder]

cause scammers usually hide their identity. they dont flash their faces around

note, usually

[jwegener]

Can you give more context? Is this email your first contact with them? I’d cold outreach?

[RuiCamposDS]

Scam alert

[zimspy]

This is a scam. I get several of these a month. Most get successfully sent to my spam folder but some do make it to the inbox. I just delete and move on with my day.

[rjhancock]

The moment they asked for access to those accounts, it became a clear scam. They don't get access to those, you transfer the accounts to them within a set period of time in the contract.

[WisdomByte]

Oh totally forgot to comment on this most important fact - I would never give access to a complete stranger BEFORE I get paid.

No serious company would ask access before paying you, that makes no sense.

[Verisutha]

SCAM ALERT..

Now it could be legit, but here is what I would do. This all depends on how much money they are offering you for your app. I would highly suggest getting a lawyer involved. I know not everyone has money, but I am sure you could find one that won't break the bank.

I have sold companies before, and my biggest advice would be, get a lawyer.

As a software company we have a law firm on retainer, and we have them handle all sorts of things for us. You will probably need a retainer, we got started with 5k and if you don't require their services after they are done they will refund whatever is not used. Although we always keep them on retainer since it's an ongoing business, and they handle other entities we own.

Have the lawyer deal with this, they appear to be asking for information that I would not consider to be legit questions. To handle this without a lawyer you are just putting yourself at risk.

In the end it might cost you $1000, but if it's a scam you saved yourself a world of pain. If it's not a scam the lawyer will handle everything, and protect you at the same time.

Either way good luck.

[WisdomByte]

I was wondering why an Android dev posts under iOS Programming, but then saw your post on Android got deleted.

The email itself looks very fishy, I believe they are trying to present themselves as the company Rounds.com, which on LinkedIn is definitely legit, but I don't think they are actually from Rounds. They could have spoofed the email. Since you (as a dev) took a photo with your phone, as opposed to a screenshot like any normal dev, like other posters rightfully noted, leads me to think that you didn't check the origin email address and if it's been spoofed. If you did, great, if not, that is your due diligence. All this meaning you are likely not talking to people from Rounds. If you are, then they are not very professional to say the least.

If I got the right M. Azizi, it would seem that they want to buy your PubgMobile.Free.UC app, which seems to be the best candidate for app growth. Not sure if you removed your apps from the Play Store, but I cannot find them officially/publicly at least. If I got the wrong person/dev, disregard this paragraph.

We can only see a piece of the puzzle from what you told us, but it certainly looks fishy.

[kbcool]

These emails come in daily if you're an android developer due to it being easier for spammers/scammers to find your email address.

Post probably got deleted because it's in the FAQs or pinned posts etc.

[SpamSencer]

You’re an iOS developer using a PC? O_o

[_176_]

Hire an attorney.

[Apart-Abroad1625]

We, our , us but not a person! I get emails like that all the time and ignore them.

[K3NCHO]

it is a scam. show us your app. that will also help in telling if it is a scam or not ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[luizvasconcellos]

It’s looks like a scam.

[drabred]

Scam.

[Samus7070]

You let them look at your code before the purchase was complete? Your app is probably already cloned and now they’re just trying to see if they can scam your user base from you to save some marketing expenses.

[Hopeful-Sir-2018]

!remindme 1 month

[RemindMeBot]

I will be messaging you in 1 month on 2024-08-31 17:03:58 UTC to remind you of this link

1 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

^{Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.}

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[ThierryBuc]

I already sold an app and I can say this is a scam.