Hong Kong’s financial regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), has taken action against a series of fraudulent websites posing as licensed cryptocurrency exchanges. The SFC’s move came on March 4 when it issued an official warning regarding multiple suspicious websites that were impersonating two reputable crypto trading platforms in Hong Kong. These fake domains targeted well-known exchanges like OSL Digital Securities and Hash Blockchain Limited, also known as HashKey.
The SFC identified and blocked six deceptive websites, including hskexpro.com, hskex.com, hskexs.com, hskexit.com, oslexu.com, and oslint.com. This action followed reports of issues related to fund withdrawals, high fees, and commissions for withdrawals on these platforms. In response to the SFC’s alert, the Hong Kong Police Force intervened to restrict access to these fraudulent websites.
This incident is not isolated, as the fake websites are now listed on the SFC’s official crypto alert list alongside other deceptive platforms impersonating exchanges like MEXC. In a previous case on February 9, the SFC had blacklisted eight domains posing as MEXC.
To protect investors from such scams, the SFC advised individuals to verify trading platforms through its public register of licensed entities and registered institutions. Additionally, users were encouraged to consult the licensed virtual asset trading platform list for accurate information about authorized entities and their official websites.
In light of these developments, investors must exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with any cryptocurrency exchange platform. Staying informed about regulatory alerts and relying on trusted sources can help mitigate the risks associated with fraudulent activities in the crypto space.
