Buying App Installs

Hey,

We're launching a game app (Category: trivia) on the Play Store and thought about seeking help from a CPI service ($0.095 per install) to get some initial traction.

When asked about the process, the rep said real users are scattered across the globe; they install the app with the direct link and keep it if they choose to. This service is called the 'package install'.

They have another service- the 'keyword install' that is meant for existing apps ($0.15 per install) and that operates differently- user searches on Play Store with the keywords we provide (chosen from SensorTower I guess), install and keep if they choose to.

I was advised to go for the package batch install since it's a new app and the rep said around 1k installs would do the trick for a 'difficult' keyword.

I have a few questions. And I'm a noob at this.

1. Will Play Store penalize the app? From what she said, there'll be real users installing the app but, will Google pick up the signals and classify it as a shady practice?

2. Are these users real or just bots?

3. Does this work?

4. 9 cents per install decent?

*bump* hoping someone will help

I have more experience with iOS games, and little bit with google play, but from what I experienced when I bought such installs, it will raise app ranking, but value from such users will be almost zero. It will decrease retention rate for your app.
It would improve some parameters but also it would bring some negative impact on other parameters. That's all I can tell.
Anyway, lot of developers buy installs with success, you just need some tactics how to do it.
There is quite good threads in mobile marketing section already, about reskining, some android journeys with lot of good info.

Now, you can't to raise app ranking only with only fake installations. You need to use other ways to grown your installations count too.

App stores learned to define such a simple way to cheat.

If you use several methods, it will be harder to filter such the cheat.

Retention is the most i think...

Alright, thanks, guys

As someone who has been doing CPI long time, for this price I wouldnt even think about that, out there there are similar apps that pay 1$ for install.

i'll recommend to not do that,hire an aso expert instead and a good graphic designer to make attractive screeshots and good luck.

ps: i'm sure many have bought those install and half of those apps or accounts are terminated or will be terminated ,because no one is bigger than google or apple and they always figure these things out