Key Takeaways
- Google faces a lawsuit for delaying the removal of a scam app.
- Maria Vaca lost over $5 million due to a fraudulent Bitcoin app.
- At least five other users reported similar experiences with the app.
A Florida woman, Maria Vaca, is suing Google after losing over $5 million to a fraudulent Bitcoin app she downloaded from the Google Play Store. The app, Yobit Pro, tricked users into investing in Bitcoin and then blocked them from withdrawing funds without paying large fees. Vaca’s lawsuit claims Google took three months to remove the app, even after receiving a complaint from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Between February and July 2023, Vaca invested nearly $4.6 million in Bitcoin using the app. When her balance showed $7 million, she tried to withdraw funds but was asked to pay an additional $500,000 in “taxes.” After she complied, the app demanded another $2 million. Upon refusal, she received threats from scammers.
Vaca is now suing Google for damages in California. Her lawsuit accuses Google of negligence and claims she only downloaded the app because she trusted Google’s app review process. In addition to her own experience, Vaca’s lawsuit says at least five other users suffered similar losses.
In April, Google filed a separate lawsuit against developers of fraudulent apps, acknowledging that scams like these harm the platform’s reputation.
