The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged five entities and three individuals with involvement in crypto fraud through fake platforms NanoBit and CoinW6.
SEC Charges
These platforms deceived their investors by portraying themselves as legitimate crypto trading operations. The complaints were filed in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of New York and the Central District of California by the SEC. According to the SEC, both schemes used social media platforms such as WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram to lure investors. The fraudsters used a so-called 'relationship investment scam,' where victims believed they were investing through reliable means. Victims were usually convinced to invest large sums of money, only to find their money stolen.
Social Media Investment Scams
In the case of NanoBit, three U.S. residents, Jiajie Liu, Fei Liao, and Hua Zhao, supposedly posed as finance professionals within WhatsApp groups. They managed to dupe at least 18 investors into investing almost $1 million in crypto assets and fiat currency. The platform appeared to show positive returns to investors, but no one could withdraw funds, and the scammers disappeared. The second scheme involved CoinW6 and worked similarly but took on a more romantic angle. The fraudsters used social media to pose as young professionals and woo their victims into romantic relationships. After several weeks of gaining their trust, they convinced their victims to invest in the company, resulting in losses totaling over $2.2 million. The scammers faked account balances and profits to encourage further investments.
Losses and Anti-Fraud Efforts
The FBI reported that losses from crypto fraud reached an all-time high of $5.6 billion last year, with $4 billion resulting from pig butchering scams. The SEC is increasing efforts, in collaboration with other regulators, to combat the growing threat of crypto-related fraud.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission continues to fight crypto fraud by holding entities and individuals involved in illegal schemes accountable. As losses from such schemes rise, the SEC, along with other regulatory bodies, is working hard to prevent these crimes.
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