Google sued a man who used his advertisements online to run a scam that mainly targeted the elderly. The defendant, of Cameroonian origin, advertised basset hound puppies, sold them but buyers never received them.
The puppy scam: details of the Google lawsuit
The US company alleged that the defendant user violated the terms and conditions of use of the platforms, including online ads, to carry out a “puppy fraud scheme”.
I also read: Credit card scams: tips to avoid them and tips to prevent digital fraud
Google’s lawsuit was filed Monday in a California court against Nche Noel Ntse. In the documents delivered to the court (it is possible to consult them here) details the techniques used, for example ads with links to websites that included photos of the dogs and false testimonials. They also indicated that the scammer manipulated his victims in individual conversations, convincing them to make money transfers to receive puppies that never reached the defrauded.
“The defendant Nche Noel Ntse has perpetrated a dog fraud scam (…) preying on unsuspecting and vulnerable victims. Defendant operates several websites that deceive and defraud Internet users in the United States. Some of these scam websites claim to sell adorable puppies, and victims are tricked into believing that these sites are legitimate due to their attractive photos of purebred puppies and convincing testimonials from supposedly satisfied customers,” the lawsuit reads.
Google noted…
