Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police don name Google India head as co-accused for three separate cyber fraud cases. Di complainants say dem lose money after downloading fake trading apps from Google Play Store, thinking say dem genuine because dem dey listed there.
Di cases register under Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against both di alleged fraudsters and Google India head. Wetin be di three fraud cases? For di first case, one 69-year-old man say he see social media advert for May wey claim investors fit earn Rs 22 lakh per week. After he register im number, one woman contact am on messaging app and persuade am to transfer big money through app wey dey available on Play Store.
For di second case, one 40-year-old man allege say he lose Rs 17 lakh after dem send am link and instruct am to download app from Play Store, where he invest money as dem direct am. He say he no fit withdraw im funds.
Di third case no dey describe for di source, but all three complainants allege say Google fail to exercise due diligence for preventing di fraudulent apps from dey publish, despite having content moderation and review systems in place.
Concerning dis issue, one Google spokesperson tell ETV Bharat say, “Google Play strictly prohibits all forms of deception. We investigated dis issue as soon as we dey alert, and confirm say only one app dey available on Play Store.” Di company say dia review find say only one of di named apps actually dey available on Play Store, and confirm say am comply with Play’s financial services policy.
Google say dem dey review valid legal removal requests when dem notify am through proper legal channels, and dem dey restrict or remove apps where appropriate, in line with local laws. Of di other two apps wey dem mention for di complaints, Google say one don already suspend from Play Store, while di other be website, not app.
Google say every app for Play Store dey undergo over 10,000 safety checks before publication, and dem take swift action to remove non-compliant apps and ban developer accounts wey dey involve for violations. Dem add say Google Play Protect now scan more than 350 billion Android apps daily, and Google Messages use AI-powered filters to flag scam-related texts before dem fit lead to financial fraud.
Google also point to past collaborations with Indian regulators, including a 2025 partnership with Ministry of Home Affairs’ I4C unit and SEBI to publish approved trading app lists, and a March 2026 initiative with SEBI to display verified badges for approved stock trading apps on Play Store.
