CoinDCX attributes allegations to fake websites misleading uninformed Crypto users.
Sumit Gupta, the CEO of CoinDCX crypto exchange has refuted claims that it has allegedly defrauded some of its users. This response came after media reports citing anonymous police officials from Delhi claimed that CoinDCX asked users to pay extra money to process withdrawals – with a promise of tax deduction and refund from the company. As per Gupta, it was not CoinDCX but other fake websites named similar to CoinDCX that were fueling this chaos.
“We’ve learnt of users having reported fraud related to the use of CoinDCX’s App through the recent media outlet’s article. We would like to confirm that no such incident has occurred on the CoinDCX App or website and this issue appears to be unfortunately a case of fake website scam which is rampant in the industry. It’s important to note that several fake websites/URLs are in operation, mimicking financial apps to deceive users, a challenge faced by many fintech players and financial apps including crypto apps. Swiftly, we have reported these threats to CERT,” Gupta wrote in a detailed X post.
As scams on social media, especially on Telegram and WhatsApp, are on the rise, we've detected scammers executing fake CoinDCX schemes, attempting to gain your trust (example attached).
This isn't just impacting @CoinDCX customers but also those who haven't joined us yet.… pic.twitter.com/BDCvN0Ckn8
— Sumit Gupta (@smtgpt) November 28, 2023
Screenshots now emerging on X show potential victims complain about CoinDRX and not CoinDCX.
As you can clearly see! 👇
1) The user is talking about coindrx (not CoinDCX)
2) this is NOT CoinDCX App interfaceSo, the news article is misrepresented.
Most importantly, Let’s spread awareness to protect customers from such scams! We are committed to it as published here… https://t.co/UptV8tRMCH
— Sumit Gupta (@smtgpt) January 3, 2024
As of now, Delhi Police have neither accepted nor denied opening a probe on this crypto exchange. More details on the same remain awaited.
Here’s What Happened:-
A story by Indian Express claimed that CoinDCX was being investigated after multiple users lodged complaints against the platform. Citing details from the FIR, the media house reported that a primary inquiry in the case has identified a cognisable offence and is now lining up victims to understand if CoinDCX duped its users via fraud – asking users to deposit an extra lump sum from which it would deduct the taxes and refund the rest before letting them withdraw their investments.
Users of the exchange who were worried they could be victims of a financial fraud initiated by the industrially-stressed exchange, unleashed onto India’s crypto sector via social media.
Reacting to the situation, CoinDCX’s CEO further said, “We take any reports of fraudulent activity seriously and have in fact been working with the cyber cell and MeITY on such matters. Our top-notch security team conducts rigorous checks and has uncovered over 80 fraudulent websites/URLs in the recent past masquerading as CoinDCX exchange. We have stated this before and want to reinforce again: the safety and security of users’ funds are our absolute top priorities.”
The confusing turn of events come at a time when the Indian government is seemingly tightening its noose around crypto players, as legal requirements for these firms to adhere to are gradually being announced in the nation.
Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in India, as of March 2023, fall within the purview of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) framework under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Recently, all cryptocurrency-related firms in India have been mandated to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to legitimize their operations in the country.
As part of compliance measures against offshore entities, the FIU has issued show cause notices under Section 13 of the PMLA to nine offshore VASPS, namely Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, and Bitfinex.
In the interim, the FIU has called upon India’s IT ministry to block the URLs of these entities that are operating without adherence to the provisions of the PMLA, thereby engaging in illegal activities.