ED Attaches ₹42.8 Crore Linked to Coinbase Spoof Scam Mastermind Chirag Tomar

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹42.8 crore belonging to Chirag Tomar, his family members, and associated entities, in connection with an international cryptocurrency fraud case.

The attachment order, issued on August 2, 2025, includes 18 immovable properties in Delhi and multiple bank account credits, following an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to a sophisticated cyber scam involving a spoofed version of the crypto exchange Coinbase.

The ED investigation was triggered by a newspaper report confirming Tomar’s arrest in the United States, where he was charged with stealing more than $20 million in digital assets through fake websites designed to mimic Coinbase.

According to officials, Tomar’s scheme relied on search engine optimization (SEO) manipulation to make spoofed websites rank higher than the legitimate Coinbase site. The fake website was nearly identical to the original, except for its contact details. When victims attempted to log in, the site displayed errors and prompted them to contact a fake support number.

This number connected victims to a fraudulent call center operated by Tomar, where scammers gained access to victims’ wallets and quickly transferred their crypto assets to wallets controlled by the fraud ring. The funds were then laundered through peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, converted into Indian rupees, and routed to bank accounts held by Tomar and his associates.

The proceeds were allegedly used to purchase real estate in India, now attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Tomar is currently in custody in the U.S., and ED officials confirmed that further investigation is ongoing to trace additional assets and uncover the full scope of the laundering network.

Editorial Note: This news article has been written with assistance from AI. Edited & fact-checked by the Editorial Team.

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