The plaintiff argues that Google ignored a known crypto scam for weeks
Google is facing a lawsuit after allegedly failing to act swiftly in removing a fraudulent cryptocurrency app from its platform, leading to over $5 million in losses. The lawsuit, filed by a Florida woman, Maria Vaca, claims that the tech giant did not take appropriate measures to protect users from a scam app called Yobit Pro. The app, which posed as a legitimate crypto wallet, was instead operated by cybercriminals.
According to the lawsuit, Vaca deposited $4.6 million into the app between February and July of the previous year. When she attempted to withdraw her funds, which had grown to $7 million, Yobit Pro informed her that she needed to deposit an additional $500,000 for “tax” purposes. After complying with this demand, Vaca was told she needed to deposit another $2 million for verification. At this point, she refused, and shortly thereafter, she received threats from unknown individuals who demanded more money.
Vaca reported the situation to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which forwarded her complaint to Google. However, the lawsuit alleges that Google took nearly three months to remove the app from its store, during which time at least five other users fell victim to the same scam.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the California Superior Court of Santa Clara County, accuses Google of making false claims about the safety and security of the apps available on its platform. Vaca is seeking $5 million in damages for the financial losses she suffered. Google, which has previously taken legal action against individuals involved in distributing fraudulent crypto apps, has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
