Google is throwing down the gauntlet against crypto scammers. The tech giant's parent company, Alphabet, has filed a lawsuit against two individuals in China, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme involving fraudulent crypto apps on the Google Play Store.

The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, alleges the scammers tricked over 100,000 unsuspecting users into downloading these fake investment apps. These apps mimicked legitimate crypto platforms, luring users into depositing funds they could never retrieve.

This isn't the first time Google has grappled with app store fraud. Despite the company's ongoing efforts to weed out bad actors, these crafty scammers managed to bypass detection for years, starting their scheme back in 2019.

The lawsuit underscores Google's commitment to user safety. Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, stated the action is a "critical step" to holding these fraudsters accountable and deterring future scams.

This incident highlights the ever-present threat of crypto scams. With phishing attacks surging (crypto phishing scams alone rose 50% in March!), it's crucial for users to remain vigilant. Remember, if an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.