Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) has warned the general public in opposition to suspicious web sites impersonating the 2 licensed crypto exchanges within the city-state, in accordance with a Mar. 4 notice.
In line with the discover, a number of websites impersonating the picture and branding of each Hash Blockchain Restricted and OSL Digital Securities Restricted try to trick customers.
This fraudulent act has misled a number of buyers, who reported it to the regulator. Some customers complained about their incapacity to withdraw funds, whereas others had been compelled to pay excessive charges earlier than unlocking their belongings.
On account of this, SFC warned buyers to conduct their due diligence earlier than utilizing any crypto change, including that the Hong Kong police have blocked the offending web sites.
As well as, the monetary regulator cautioned that there may be different misleading platforms impersonating licensed entities. Therefore, buyers are strongly suggested to confirm the registration standing of the establishments they interact with.
“The SFC as soon as once more reminds the general public that on-line funding scams might contain any sort of belongings and are perpetrated via a number of channels, together with social media and prompt messaging apps. Traders ought to keep vigilant and confirm the legitimacy of a digital asset buying and selling platform earlier than making any transactions,” it added.
In the meantime, this isn’t the primary time Hong Kong authorities have warned a few web site impersonating a crypto platform. In February, the regulator issued a public warning in opposition to an entity masquerading as crypto change MEXC Global that was luring unsuspecting victims right into a crypto funding rip-off.
Hong Kong’s crypto licensing
Hong Kong has just lately develop into a vacation spot of alternative for crypto exchanges on account of its regulatory clarity and strategic place within the Asian market.
Throughout its latest crypto change license application drive, the SFC obtained applications from a number of main exchanges, together with Crypto.com, OKX, HTX, and ByBit, to function legally throughout the area.
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