The Windows app store is a "cesspool" of fake apps and scams, according to an informal inquiry by How To Geek. The website gives an abysmal rating to the app store, noting that scams parading as well-known apps were available with almost every search.
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A search for a VLC app, for example, brings up the official VLC for Windows 8 app first. However, it also brings up pages and pages of fakes and knock-offs, many masquerading with VLC's trademark traffic cone logo. Worst, many of these apps are paid- in other words, a straight-up scam taking money from your digital wallet.
One $4.99 app called the "VLC Player Download" promises that "this app helps the users to know how to download install and why it is." Others called "Download Vlc Player" or "download vlc player" are for rubes on a budget, costing just $1.99 and $1.29 respectively.
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After forking over the money for one of these copycats, many will give you a link to the real free VLC app. The business plan is apparently to charge unsuspecting and confused Windows users for something they could get for free if Microsoft cut away the clutter.
At least there is an official VLC app- when there isn't an actual Windows app for a company, the results are pretty noxious. Microsoft is focused on populating their app ecosystem right now, so the scams are clearly low on their priority list.
