Holiday shoppers have a warning regarding the hundreds of fake product apps and retail that has popped up in Apple's app store in recent weeks. Retail chains like Foot Locker and Dollar Tree, department stores like Nordstrom and Dillard's, an online product like Polyvore and Zappos, luxury makers like Christian Dior, Jimmy Choo, and Salvatore Ferragamo have masqueraded the Apple app store.

According to a chief executive of Branding Brand, a Pittsburgh company that helps the retailers build and maintain apps, Chris Mason said that they're seeing a barrage of fake apps and said that his company is continuously tracking the new shopping apps. He even added that It is the first time in a short period of time that a hundred of counterfeit iPhone apps have appeared, The New York Times has reported. 

Some of the apps appeared to be harmless and there are junk apps that served annoying pop-up ads that pose risks in using the fake apps. Some fraud apps contain malware that steals personal information or lock up your phone till users pay a ransom. Most of the fake apps came from developers in China and have slipped through the Apple's process for reviewing apps before it is published.

Apple focuses on blocking malicious software and doesn't routinely examine the apps that have been submitted to the iTunes store every day. According to Ben Reubenstein, a chief executive of Possible Mobile said that it is important that the brands monitor their name and how it is being used by developers and report them. Apple has already been removed hundreds of fake apps on Thursday night, reported by ET Telecom. 

Apple spokesperson, Tom Neumayr said that they're striving hard to offer customers the best experience and take their security seriously and they already set up ways for developers and customers to flag suspicious or fake apps. They will also continue to be vigilant on apps that can put users at risk. But despite all the efforts, new fake apps appear every day and it is like a game of Whac-a-Mole according to Mr. Mason.

John Clay, a director of global threat communications for Trend Micro, he said that the criminals are really going to take advantage of whatever is hot and new.