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 response to a Mar. 4 discover.

In accordance with the discover, a number of websites impersonating the picture and branding of each Hash Blockchain Restricted and OSL Digital Securities Restricted are trying 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 have been compelled to pay excessive charges earlier than unlocking their belongings.

Because of this, SFC warned buyers to conduct their due diligence earlier than utilizing any crypto trade, including that the Hong Kong police have blocked the offending web sites.

As well as, the monetary regulator cautioned that there is likely to be different misleading platforms impersonating licensed entities. Therefore, buyers are strongly suggested to confirm the registration standing of the establishments they have interaction 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 by means of a number of channels, together with social media and prompt messaging apps.  Buyers 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 couple of web site impersonating a crypto platform. In February, the regulator issued a public warning in opposition to an entity masquerading as crypto trade MEXC World that was luring unsuspecting victims right into a crypto funding rip-off.

Hong Kong’s crypto licensing

Hong Kong has lately develop into a vacation spot of selection for crypto exchanges attributable to its regulatory readability and strategic place within the Asian market.

Throughout its latest crypto trade license software drive, the SFC obtained functions from a number of main exchanges, together with Crypto.com, OKX, HTX, and ByBit, to function legally inside the area.