Google is taking legal action against two Chinese nationals, Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung, for allegedly using fake Android apps to scam victims out of tens of thousands of dollars in digital assets.
Social Engineering and Fake Apps
The scammers lured victims through text messages, pretending to be from wrong numbers but later striking up conversations and developing “friendships” or “romantic attachments.” They then convinced their targets to invest in fake apps, promising high returns.
However, when victims attempted to withdraw larger amounts of their “earnings,” they were asked to pay more money. If they complained to their supposed “friend” or “romantic partner,” the scammer would simply disappear.
Disabling Fake Apps
Google has disabled 87 fake apps linked to the scammers, which were downloaded over 100,000 times worldwide. The company also used YouTube videos, fake press releases, and social media marketing to give their apps an appearance of legitimacy.
Google is urging users to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity. The company emphasizes that it does not recommend buying or selling any cryptocurrencies or digital assets and is not an investment advisor.
