A lawsuit filed by Florida resident Maria Vaca claims that Google took three months to remove a scam cryptocurrency app, Yobit Pro, from its Play Store, after it allegedly defrauded her of over $5 million. Vaca began investing in cryptocurrency via the app between February and July 2023, initially believing she was making profitable trades. By the time the app showed a balance of $7 million, she attempted to withdraw her funds but was told to deposit an additional $500,000 for “taxes.” After making this payment, the app demanded another $2 million, raising her suspicions.
When Vaca refused to pay, she received WhatsApp threats from the alleged scammers. Fearing for her safety, she reported the scam to law enforcement and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Although the CFPB forwarded the complaint to Google, Vaca claims it took the tech giant three months to remove Yobit Pro from the Play Store.
Vaca is now suing Google in California, seeking at least $5 million in damages for her financial losses, emotional distress, and the collapse of her real estate business. She argues that she trusted Google to prevent scam apps from being available on its platform. The lawsuit also alleges that over 12,700 other Android users installed Yobit Pro, with at least five others having similar experiences to Vaca.
