Watch out for "20 guaranteed testers for $5": they're bots and can get your account banned

I see this all the time in dev groups: "I'll get you 20 testers for Closed Testing for 5 bucks, guaranteed."

If you're about to do that, read this first. It can cost you your account.

How those offers work

Most aren't people. They're account farms: emulators or devices with hundreds of fake Google accounts that "install" your app and never touch it again. They tick the "12 testers" box on paper, but there's no real use.

Why Google catches it

Google doesn't just count how many accounts are in your group. It looks at:

• Device and IP patterns (50 accounts from one device = red flag).
• Real app usage (if nobody opens it, it doesn't count as genuine testing).
• Reputation of the accounts that join.

When it detects a farm, it doesn't just void the testing: it can suspend your developer account. There go your $25 registration fee and your app.

The warning sign

If the price is absurdly low and they promise "guaranteed in 24 hours," they're bots. Real human testers take time (install, use, come back). Anyone guaranteeing 20 real humans by tomorrow is lying.

What to do instead

• Get real humans, even if slower.
• Ask for proof of activity (that they're actually using the app).
• Distrust anything "instant."

At TesterSplay we work only with real people and require proof (screenshot or video) that they're using the app. It's slower than a bot farm, sure — but your account stays alive.

Better 12 real than 50 ghosts that sink you.