In a shocking incident, the Hong Kong government has unveiled a sophisticated crypto scam, involving a fake social media account impersonating the city’s Chief Executive. The scammers used the account to promote a fake cryptocurrency called “National Hong Kong Coin”, prompting a swift warning from the government.
Notably, the scammers announced the launch of the fraudulent coin on Solana, garnering widespread attention. However, Hong Kong Legislative Council member Ng Kit Chuang clarified that the government hasn’t issued the cryptocurrency.
Fake National Hong Kong Coin: What to Know
Earlier today, a fake X account impersonating Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the launch of the National Hong Kong Coin on Solana. In an attempt to legitimize the deceptive claim, the scammers used a photograph of the Chief Executive. In addition, the scammers wrote on X, “This strategic step marks a new era in digital innovation and economic growth for Hong Kong”.
Subsequently, Legislative Council member Ng Kit Chuang has reassured the public that the government has made no official announcement regarding the issuance of a cryptocurrency. He warned investors to be cautious and not fall victim to such scams, emphasizing the importance of verifying information through official channels before making any investment decisions.
Government Warns Against Fake National Hong Kong Coin
Following the scammers’ false announcement on the Hong Kong Coin, the government issued a warning. In an official statement, the SAR government clarified that the Chief Executive’s account is fake and the shared information about the crypto launch is completely false.
Legislative Council member Ng Kit Chuang’s clarification comes amidst growing concerns and queries from citizens and Web3 industry experts about a fake social media post claiming the launch of the National Hong Kong Coin. The government has firmly debunked the claims as fraudulent, and Ng has urged the public to remain cautious and vigilant.
The Rise of Government Crypto Scams
It is noteworthy that the fake Hong Kong Coin incident is part of a broader trend of crypto scams that involve impersonating celebrities and government officials to dupe investors.
Recently, scammers promoted a fake meme coin impersonating Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Scammers created a fake account, “SaudiLawConf”, to promote a fraudulent crypto called “Saudi Arabia Meme Coin”. However, the legitimate Saudi Law Conference soon discovered that their X account had been hacked and issued a warning about the crypto scam.
Similarly, the launch of Libra token, promoted by Argentinian President Javier Milei, has also created controversy. The token, which jumped by 3000% to an ATH of $4.5, soon reached its low, when the pulled $87M worth of LIBRA, leaving investors with significant losses.
The post Scam Alert: Fake National Hong Kong Coin Launch on Solana Exposed appeared first on CoinGape.
