The Freecash app, currently trending among U.S. users and briefly holding the #2 spot on Apple’s free iOS charts, isn’t paying people to scroll TikTok as advertised. Instead, it’s a marketing platform designed to funnel users into spending money on mobile games. Viral TikTok ads promising easy income for passive viewing are deceptive, and the app’s true business model relies on affiliate marketing and user data harvesting.
How The Scam Works
The scheme starts with aggressive TikTok ads that falsely claim users can earn significant money simply by watching videos. These ads direct victims to download Freecash, which then requires them to install and play mobile games like Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire. Rewards, ranging from pennies to over $100, are offered for hitting specific milestones in these games.
Freecash’s parent company, Almedia (based in Berlin), doesn’t deny the deceptive marketing but claims it’s the work of “third-party affiliate partners.” This allows them to distance themselves from the misleading claims while profiting from the influx of new game players. The app’s CEO, Moritz Holländer, openly admits in a 2024 interview that Freecash prioritizes users likely to spend money on games, rejecting those who won’t.
TikTok’s Response and Ongoing Issues
TikTok has acknowledged the ads violate its policies against financial misrepresentation and removed some after being contacted by WIRED. However, similar ads continue to circulate, often from newly created or dormant TikTok accounts. This persistence suggests the scam is adapting quickly, aided by Freecash’s affiliate program, which even encourages promoters to buy fake accounts.
The Real Cost: Data and Manipulation
The app also collects extensive personal data, including demographics, financial habits, and even biometric information. Electronic Frontier Foundation staff technologist Lena Cohen warns that Freecash may exploit users susceptible to scams or gaming addiction, while simultaneously harvesting their data for monetization. The app’s privacy policy confirms this data collection, raising concerns about how it’s being used and sold.
Why This Matters
The Freecash case highlights a growing trend of predatory marketing tactics that exploit social media algorithms and user trust. It demonstrates how easily misleading promises can spread, especially when combined with financial incentives. The fact that TikTok is still struggling to contain these ads shows the limitations of platform enforcement. The core issue: users are being tricked into spending money and handing over their data under false pretenses.
The Freecash app is a clear example of how lucrative deceptive advertising can be. Until platforms enforce stricter measures against misleading ads, users will remain at risk of being exploited by similar schemes.
