Google has initiated legal proceedings against a group of individuals suspected of uploading deceptive applications to Google Play.
These apps, falsely promising high returns, enticed users to download them, only to find the promised returns were deceptive.
A spokesperson for Google referred to the lawsuit as an “unparalleled opportunity” to establish a precedent for addressing malicious actors.
In a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, Google alleges that Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung committed numerous acts of wire fraud, resulting in harm to Google and approximately 100,000 users.
According to the filing, the defendants provided false information to Google to upload their fraudulent apps, including misrepresentations about their identity, location, and the nature of the apps.
Victims were attracted by promises of significant returns from investing in cryptocurrencies and other products, which were ultimately proven to be deceptive. Upon attempting to withdraw their funds, victims were asked to pay various fees to reclaim their investments and alleged gains.
Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google’s general counsel, emphasized the significance of the lawsuit in combatting fraudulent schemes perpetrated by bad actors in the crypto space. She highlighted Google’s commitment to protecting its users and deterring future misconduct.