Hong Kong bans two crypto websites for deceptive buyers

• Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) banned the 2 crypto web sites for scamming customers.
• HongKongDAO and BitCuped have been blocked after a joint effort of the police and web suppliers.
• The 2 circumstances come not lengthy after buyers misplaced over 1.6 billion HKD ($204 million) in JPEX and Hounax.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) has reportedly banned two cryptocurrency web sites over allegations the location had scammed buyers.

The South China Morning Publish reported on Wednesday that the securities watchdog had blacklisted and blocked entry to the HongKongDAO and BitCuped websites after authorities have been tipped off that the platforms have been deceptive buyers.

HongKongDAO touted “HKD” token

In keeping with the SCMP, Hong Kong regulators discovered that HongKongDAO had hoodwinked customers into shopping for a token dubbed “HKD”. The platform additionally supplied false assurances, mendacity to customers that it had utilized for licences from the SFC and authorities.

HongKongDAO was reportedly on the SFC’s radar since November 24 and was discovered to have two discussion groups. The Chinese language chat group had over 10,000 members, whereas the English one had over 1,700. The challenge had ostensibly touted HKD as a token with big market worth.

The regulator labored with the police and web service suppliers to have the HongKongDAO web site blocked. SFC additionally issued a stop and desist discover to crypto buying and selling platforms, asking them to halt any buying and selling of tokens linked to HongKongDAO.

BitCuped falsely listed Hong Kong Trade officers as homeowners

BitCuped, then again, misled buyers by falsely itemizing Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) chairman Laura Cha and CEO Nicolas Aguzin as affiliated with the platform. SFC famous that neither particular person had any reference to BitCuped.

The positioning misled buyers by claiming to supply crypto and shares buying and selling companies, the regulator mentioned. It was blacklisted on November 10.

Whereas the 2 websites have been banned for scamming buyers, the SFC didn’t disclose how many individuals had fallen sufferer, or the whole losses suffered. Police investigations are underway, the SMCP reported.

Hong Kong regulators and regulation enforcement are growing their efforts to stop scams reminiscent of people who not too long ago concerned crypto platforms Hounax and JPEX. Within the two circumstances, fraudulent actors noticed greater than 1.6 billion HKD ($204 million) stolen from victims.

In August, the SFC warned crypto platforms and exchanges towards deceptive buyers with false claims about their registration standing. The regulator additionally cautioned suppliers towards providing services not registered or authorised by the fee.