Fake Payout Mobile Games Are Hooking Millions and Tech Giants Look Away

• A new investigation details how fake payout mobile games promise cash rewards that rarely, if ever, materialize, drawing in millions of players.
• The games use endless goalpost-style mechanics that keep users chasing prizes while spending money on in-app purchases.
• Critics say app stores and major tech platforms profit from these titles while doing little to police them.
• The report argues that the games sit in a gray zone between gaming and gambling, leaving vulnerable users exposed.

AI-generated briefing — triage, not the story; every claim links out to the coverage below.