Back
India’s ED files charges in Coinbase phishing scam, attaches ₹64.55 crore in assets

India’s ED files charges in Coinbase phishing scam, attaches ₹64.55 crore in assets

Indian authorities charged eight defendants, including Chirag Tomar, over an alleged Coinbase Pro spoofing scheme tied to more than $20 million in stolen crypto assets; Tomar has already been sentenced in the U.S.

Fact Check
The official ED press release (dated 15-06-2026) directly confirms that the Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint under PMLA against eight accused including Chirag Tomar in the Coinbase phishing scam case, and provisionally attached properties valued at Rs 64.55 Crore (645.5 million rupees), matching the claim exactly. The US DOJ press release independently confirms Tomar's 60-month sentence for the spoofed Coinbase Pro scheme stealing over $20 million. Both primary government sources corroborate all material elements of the claim.
    Reference: 123
Summary

India’s Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet in a Delhi PMLA special court against eight defendants, including Chirag Tomar, over an alleged Coinbase impersonation scam that investigators say stole more than $20 million in crypto assets. Authorities said the scheme used SEO hijacking to direct users to a spoofed Coinbase Pro website that harvested credentials and two-factor authentication codes. Tomar, 31, has already received a 60-month sentence from a U.S. federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while Indian authorities have frozen more than 129 bank accounts and attached assets worth about ₹64.55 crore as the case advances into formal prosecution.

Terms & Concepts
  • PMLA special court: A court that handles cases under India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
  • SEO hijacking: A tactic that manipulates search results to drive users to deceptive websites.
  • two-factor authentication codes: Additional login verification codes used to improve account security.