Google has taken legal action against two Chinese nationals in the Southern District of New York for allegedly orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam through the Google Play store, resulting in the deception of over 100,000 users worldwide.
The lawsuit claims that Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung have been operating this fraudulent scheme since at least 2019, utilizing false information to upload their deceitful apps on Google Play. The general counsel at Google, Halimah DeLaine Prado, emphasized the significance of combatting such illicit activities and protecting users from crypto fraud, noting that the lawsuit serves as a deterrent to potential wrongdoers.
The accused individuals allegedly designed the apps to appear legitimate, enticing users with false balances and returns that they could not retrieve. Through various tactics like Google Voice messages, promotional videos, and affiliate marketing, Sun and Cheung reportedly engaged in a sophisticated operation to attract victims.
Despite Google’s efforts to remove the apps, the scammers persisted by creating new ones and employing deceptive tactics to avoid detection. Google is pursuing damages exceeding $75,000 and a permanent injunction against the defendants to prohibit their future access to Google services.
