Alphabet’s Google on Monday sued an alleged scammer who sold fake pets, amid measures to curb misuse by its users.
Seniors advocacy group AARP informed Google of the scam last September following a complaint by a South Carolina resident who sent $700 to an online seller to buy a basset hound puppy that never arrived, according to the report. such court case in San Jose.
Google is filing a lawsuit for financial damages and a lawsuit against the accused, Cameroonian Nche Noel, who did not respond to a request for comment.
A lawyer was not immediately listed for Noel in court.
Noel used dozens of Gmail and Google Voice email accounts “to communicate false promises to victims, register the fraudulent websites with web hosting companies, and request and receive payments,” the lawsuit states.
In addition to basset hounds, websites allegedly linked to Noel offered maltipoo puppies, marijuana and prescription opiate cough syrup, according to the lawsuit.
Google’s policies prohibit the use of its services in illegal activities. The lawsuit says the PUP scam damaged Google’s reputation and cost more than $75,000 to investigate and remediate.
Previously, Google referred a similar case to the US Department of Justice, where a Cameroonian extradited from Romania had pleaded guilty last year.
Google has already sued Russian hackers and undercover marketing companies, but that was the first time it has directly filed a consumer protection suit.
Source: CNN Brasil

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