Hounax scam: firm changed website address 32 times to evade detection by Hong Kong authorities
- Company’s websites, Facebook page and accounts on X (formerly Twitter) currently unavailable, with one of the pages saying it was a ‘deceptive site’
- So far, 158 residents have reported losing about HK$155 million after being lured into investing through unlicensed platform
The virtual asset exchange platform Hounax, accused of duping Hongkongers out of more than HK$150 million (US$19.24 million), changed its website address more than 30 times to evade detection and continue its alleged cryptocurrency scam.
According to police, 158 residents have reported losing about HK$155 million after being lured into investing through the unlicensed platform.
Officers from the cybersecurity and technology crime bureau had identified 32 websites linked to Hounax since October and had forwarded the information to relevant authorities and organisations, the force said on Wednesday.
“Fraudsters constantly change their website addresses in an attempt to bypass warnings issued by the force’s Scameter search engine and evade police investigation,” police said.
The Scameter, accessible through the CyberDefender website and app, helps the public identify suspicious web addresses, emails, platform usernames, bank accounts, mobile phone numbers and IP addresses.
Police said deceptive websites typically held domain registrations only for a brief period.