Vaca Sues Google for $5M Over Dangerous App on Platform, Citing Negligence

On Aug 18, 2024

Google sued for $5M over a dangerous crypto wallet app on its app store PlayStore.

Maria Vaca has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Google in California, accusing the company of negligence. She claims that a crypto wallet app downloaded from Google’s Play Store was malicious and led to the theft of her digital assets. Vaca argues that Google failed to protect users by allowing such a dangerous app on its platform. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of apps on the Play Store, especially in the crypto space.

Google sued for $5 million over malicious crypto wallet app. The victim, Maria Vaca, has filed a lawsuit against Google in a California court. Google's chaotic review has led to a large number of fraudulent cryptocurrency apps appearing on the market and websites.…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 18, 2024

PlayStore vs Crypto scam apps

Crypto scams on the Play Store are not new. In April 2024, Google sued multiple publishers of illicit crypto apps and exchanges that allegedly scammed over 100,000 people worldwide.

These scammers reportedly used fake identities and misleading information to bypass Google’s security checks, highlighting ongoing risks in the crypto space.

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Legal experts believe Vaca’s case will hinge on whether Google knew about the scam app and how long it was available. Vaca’s attorney, Chris Vernon, emphasised the need for stronger app monitoring and better regulations as crypto thefts continue to rise.

Google vs Crypto ads

In 2018, Google banned all cryptocurrency-related ads on Google AdSense due to a surge in Ponzi schemes and fraudulent crypto investment ads across its network.

However, in 2023, Google softened its stance on the crypto sector, allowing advertisements for certain crypto services. This policy change took effect in January 2024.

This year, Google AdSense featured numerous ads for Bitcoin spot ETFs, a type of Bitcoin investment product, across U.S. states. This increased crypto-related advertising highlights the growing importance of the crypto sector. However, it also underscores the potential for scams within the industry. Therefore, decisions regarding crypto involvement should be approached cautiously, with careful, phased steps by any tech giants.