TechFlow news: Florida resident Maria Vaca has filed a lawsuit against Google in California after losing approximately $5 million through the cryptocurrency app Yobit Pro downloaded from the Google Play Store.
According to reports, between February and July 2023, Vaca invested around $4.6 million in cryptocurrency via Yobit Pro. When the app showed her balance at about $7 million, she attempted to withdraw funds but was asked to pay an additional $500,000 "tax fee." After making that payment, the app demanded another $2 million, which Vaca refused to pay—and subsequently received death threats.
Vaca contacted law enforcement and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), but allegedly it took Google three months to remove the app from the Play Store. The lawsuit states that approximately 12,759 Android users installed Yobit Pro, with at least five others experiencing similar scams.
Vaca is suing Google for failing to effectively prevent fraudulent apps, seeking at least $5 million in damages.
