India's Directorate of Enforcement filed a prosecution complaint on Monday against Chirag Tomar and seven other individuals and entities in connection with an alleged Coinbase spoofing scheme that stole more than $20 million from victims. The ED launched its investigation after reports of Tomar's arrest in the United States and later obtained details through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty channels from U.S. authorities. The enforcement action comes as India continues to rank as the world's largest crypto market, retaining the top position in global crypto adoption for the third consecutive year according to TRM Labs' 2025 report.
ED Investigation Reveals Spoofed Websites and Credential Harvesting Scheme
According to the ED's statement, Tomar and his associates created spoofed websites designed to mimic Coinbase's platform to harvest user login credentials and two-factor authentication codes. After gaining access to victim accounts, the group transferred cryptocurrency holdings to wallets under their control, converted the assets through multiple wallets, and ultimately exchanged the funds for Indian rupees via peer-to-peer transactions, the ED alleged. Tomar was previously sentenced in the United States to 60 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Enforcement Directorate Provisionally Attaches $6.8 Million in Assets
The investigation found that proceeds from the alleged fraud were deposited into bank accounts linked to Tomar, his family members, associates, and group entities before being layered through multiple accounts and used to acquire movable and immovable assets, per the statement. In response to these findings, the ED has provisionally attached 64.55 crore rupees ($6.8 million) in assets as part of its ongoing probe.
India Intensifies Crypto Fraud Enforcement Amid Rising Adoption
The development comes about three months after India's Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Darwin Labs co-founder and chief technology officer Ayush Varshney at Mumbai airport over his alleged role in the multi-year GainBitcoin scheme. According to TRM Labs' 2025 Crypto Adoption and Stablecoin Usage Report, India retained the top position in global crypto adoption for the third consecutive year, with the broader South Asia region recording an 80% increase in crypto adoption between January and July 2025 versus the same period a year earlier.
FAQ
What did India's Directorate of Enforcement charge Chirag Tomar with?
India's Directorate of Enforcement filed a prosecution complaint against Chirag Tomar and seven other individuals and entities in connection with an alleged Coinbase spoofing scheme that stole more than $20 million from victims. The ED alleged that Tomar and his associates created spoofed websites designed to mimic Coinbase's platform to harvest user login credentials and two-factor authentication codes.
How much in assets did the ED provisionally attach in this case?
The ED provisionally attached 64.55 crore rupees ($6.8 million) in assets as part of its ongoing probe. The investigation found that proceeds from the alleged fraud were deposited into bank accounts linked to Tomar, his family members, associates, and group entities before being layered through multiple accounts and used to acquire movable and immovable assets.
What is India's position in global crypto adoption according to TRM Labs?
According to TRM Labs' 2025 Crypto Adoption and Stablecoin Usage Report, India retained the top position in global crypto adoption for the third consecutive year. The broader South Asia region recorded an 80% increase in crypto adoption between January and July 2025 versus the same period a year earlier.
