[ghshephard]

Okay, call me cynical, but doesn't this read like an HN version of a 419 scam? It has everything, an "unknown" user account with almost no Karma, the personal appeal, the money in an offshore, specific dollar figures, the temptation to help the person in return for a cut of the money - All with an HN twist (Apple Store acting like a tool).

Sadly, this may all be in the up-and-up, and I'm just biased from years of being exposed to the Intertubes...

[zoomboy]

I have no intention of asking anyone here for money (for precisely this reason) and will not accept any offers.

[wjy]

"The temptation to help the person in return for a cut of the money" is not the same as "asking for help and promising a cut of the money". You're seeing intent where none is expressed.

There's no appeal for you to do anything shady or stupid.

Wise up. By posting your rumination, you're casting an unwarranted shadow on the whole situation.

[ghshephard]

So, here's the thing - Every AppStore developer I run into that posts a story that may go memetic, almost _always_ identifies themselves, and their App. If umpteen million people are about to read your story, that's a potential many hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue.

Ask any AppStore developer that's been in the game for a while, going public is what it's _all_ about.

With that said, yeah - there's a good chance this is on the up-and-up, and I'm not suggesting that people not provide advice, or help zoomboy out - just consider your possible downsides prior to sending cash.