NEW DELHI — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 21.71 crore linked to Chirag Tomar, an Indian national arrested by US authorities for orchestrating a $20 million cryptocurrency phishing scam.
Tomar was apprehended in December 2023 while attempting to enter the United States. His arrest triggered an ED investigation to trace the proceeds of his illicit operations back to India.
According to the agency, Tomar and his associates—Rahul Anand, Akash Vaish, and Piyush Prashar—used fake websites mimicking the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to defraud victims. Nine immovable properties in Delhi, along with other assets owned by Tomar, his family, and associates, have been attached.
The scam involved manipulating search engine results so the spoofed website appeared on top. When users entered their login credentials, the site showed an error message, prompting them to call the number provided. These calls were managed by Tomar and his associates, who then gained access to victims’ cryptocurrency accounts. The stolen crypto was quickly transferred to wallets under their control, sold on P2P platforms, converted to Indian rupees, and used to purchase properties.
The ED warned citizens to remain cautious against phishing scams and fraudulent communications. Spoofed websites may resemble legitimate sites but often include extra letters, symbols, spelling errors, or “Not Secure” labels. Other red flags include low-quality images, mismatched fonts, irregular layouts, pop-ups asking for personal data, and offers that seem unusually generous or urgent.
“Official websites never ask for passwords, OTPs, bank details, or Aadhaar numbers through pop-ups or emails,” the agency said. “The total attachment in the case so far stands at Rs. 64.15 crore.”
