The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has recently issued a warning urging the public to be cautious of two companies involved in suspected virtual asset fraud activities, namely "LonShiX" and "Bitbank (Global) Financial Holding Group."
According to the SFC, "LonShiX" claims to operate in Hong Kong but has published a false address on its website. The company impersonates authorized investment professionals from banks through social media and instant messaging apps, enticing investors to open investment accounts.
On the other hand, "Bitbank (Global) Financial Holding Group" adopts a name strikingly similar to a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange but has no actual connection. The SFC suspects that "Bitbank (Global) Financial Holding Group" disseminates false and misleading information through its website and social media. The company falsely claims to have obtained SFC approval and is in the process of becoming a virtual asset services provider.
These claims are fabricated and may mislead the public into believing that the services and operations of "Bitbank (Global)" are legitimate and officially licensed, potentially leading others to trade on its platform.
In response to this situation, the Hong Kong police have taken measures to block the websites and related accounts of both "LonShiX" and "Bitbank (Global)." As of December 20, 2023, these two entities and their websites have been included in the SFC's list of suspicious virtual asset trading platforms.
The SFC emphasizes once again the need for the public to exercise caution in virtual asset trading. Investors are advised to verify the legitimacy of platforms and ensure that their chosen platforms have obtained approval from relevant regulatory authorities before engaging in any transactions. The SFC will continue to strengthen its regulatory efforts in the virtual asset market to safeguard the rights of investors.
