Google Sued for $5 Million Over Malicious Crypto Wallet App
Vaca's lawsuit, filed in a California court, details a harrowing experience that began in early 2023 when she downloaded the Yobit Pro app from the Google Play Store.
In a recent case, Florida resident Maria Vaca has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging the tech giant’s lax review process enabled a fraudulent cryptocurrency app to fleece her of millions of dollars.
Vaca’s lawsuit, filed in a California court, details a harrowing experience that began in early 2023 when she downloaded the Yobit Pro app from the Google Play Store.
Initially, the app appeared legitimate, and Vaca invested a substantial sum, roughly $4.6 million, in cryptocurrencies through the platform.
The app, however, proved to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. As Vaca attempted to withdraw her supposed $7 million in profits, she encountered a series of red flags. The app demanded an additional $500,000 for “taxes,” and when Vaca complied, the demands escalated to $2 million.
When she refused to submit to the escalating ransom, Vaca received menacing messages from unidentified cybercriminals threatening violence.
Google Playstore Failed to Put Malicious App
Terrified, Vaca contacted law enforcement and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which promptly notified Google.
However, according to the lawsuit, Google took three months to remove the fraudulent app from its Play Store, a delay Vaca alleges contributed to her significant financial losses.
Vaca’s lawsuit argues that she relied on Google’s representations that its app store vetted applications thoroughly, protecting users from malicious apps. She contends that Google’s failure to adequately review Yobit Pro and its subsequent delay in removing the app from the Play Store constituted a material misrepresentation, causing her substantial financial damages exceeding $5 million, severe emotional distress, and the loss of her hard-earned real estate business.
Vaca’s lawsuit goes beyond her own experience, alleging that approximately 12,759 other Android users downloaded Yobit Pro, with at least five victims reporting similar experiences of financial exploitation.
The proliferation of fraudulent cryptocurrency apps poses a significant threat to unsuspecting users, and platforms like Google Play have a responsibility to ensure their app stores are secure and trustworthy. An X user claimed.
