Google doesn’t have to refund Google Play gift card scam victims

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Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

• A federal judge ruled that Google isn’t obligated to refund victims of Google Play gift card scams.
• The ruling found that Google didn’t directly encourage scams and thus isn’t liable for victims’ losses.
• The plaintiff argued that Google profits from these gift cards and has the technology to detect and prevent them.

In a recent federal court ruling, Judge Beth Freeman found that Google is under no obligation to refund users who fall victim to scams involving Google Play gift cards. (h/t: Ars Technica)

The case, brought by plaintiff Judy May, centers around a common but often under-reported scam tactic: tricking individuals into purchasing gift cards under false pretenses. Freeman’s decision largely favors Google, highlighting the tech giant’s legal distance from liability in cases where third-party scammers drive the transactions.




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