California Resident Sues Asian Banks Over Alleged Crypto Scam

According to Cointelegraph, a California resident has initiated legal action against three Asia-based banks, alleging their failure to conduct essential checks allowed crypto scammers to defraud him of nearly $1 million. The lawsuit, filed in a California district court on December 31, 2024, by attorneys representing Ken Liem, claims he fell victim to a 'pig butchering' scam after being approached on LinkedIn in June 2023 with a cryptocurrency investment proposal. Liem's legal team asserts that he was convinced to transfer funds over several months to individuals posing as crypto investors. These funds were reportedly deposited into accounts at Hong Kong's Fubon Bank Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, and Singapore's DBS Bank Limited, before being transferred to other third-party accounts. The lawsuit accuses these banks of neglecting to perform adequate Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering checks, which could have flagged concerns about the account holders and potentially prevented the opening of these accounts. The attorneys argue that the banks likely recognized a high probability that the account holders intended to defraud victims, as a basic review would have shown a lack of credible evidence supporting the legitimacy of their business activities. The lawsuit further claims that the banks turned a blind eye to illicit funds moving from the United States to various Asian entities whose accounts they managed, thereby facilitating the extraction of substantial sums that financed pig-butchering scams. Additionally, the suit accuses the banks of failing to adhere to the US Bank Secrecy Act, which mandates financial institutions to maintain detailed transaction records and report suspicious activities to the US Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Liem's attorneys argue that the banks are subject to this Act because DBS operates a branch in California, and Fubon and Chong Hing processed transactions through Liem's account at Wells Fargo, a US bank. The lawsuit also targets Hong Kong-based entities Richou Trade Limited, FFQI Trade Limited, Xibing Limited, and Weidel Limited, accusing them of unlawfully diverting Liem's funds to third-party accounts and falsely claiming the funds would be used for cryptocurrency investments. Liem's legal team is seeking a jury trial and a minimum of $3 million in damages. At the time of publication, Fubon Bank Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, and DBS Bank Limited had not responded to requests for comment, and the Hong Kong-based entities could not be reached.