Fraudster ‘will continue to perpetrate fraud and abuse Google’s services unless stopped,’ the suit said.
Google is taking aim at a purported swindler engaging in “particularly nefarious” frauds similar to online romance scams but using photos of adorable purebred puppies to “prey on vulnerable victims during an unprecedented pandemic.”
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose contains embedded examples of online ads showing photos of floppy-eared basset hound pups with big soulful eyes. One young dog is said to be named Boris and another is said to be named Hatie, each selling for $700. A review Tuesday by this news organization of the websites listed in the lawsuit as fraudulent showed six of the 20 were still active.during the pandemic as people sought animal companionship amid the isolation imposed by the virus and public health orders. And online scams increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic as consumers avoided in-person shopping. Last year, “pet scams” made up 35% of all online-shopping frauds, the lawsuit said, citing the Better Business Bureau.
Google claimed in the suit that the scammer used several of its services, including Gmail and dozens of fraudulent Google accounts, in violation of the company’s terms of service. The firm said it has shut down accounts and services linked to the scam, but that web-hosting companies continue to allow “new scam websites crop up.”
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