Is mercatox.io a scam?

'LIKELY SCAM'
Risk: HIGH

Website Screenshot

Screenshot of mercatox.io

Overview

This exchange site shows multiple substantial red flags typical of crypto pig-butchering scams, including false user claims, mismatched/incoherent details, and very recent anonymous registration. High likelihood of being a fraudulent operation.

Why We Think This Is A Scam

Recently registered domain: created only 10 days ago (Porkbun LLC), yet claims over 2 million users ('2,152,256 USERS TRUST US'), which is implausible for a new site.
Hosted by Contabo GmbH in France, a provider sometimes associated with abuse or low-cost scam operations; mismatched with any credible brand footprint.
Copyright claims '©️ 2025', indicating either intentional backdating or sloppy template use—a common trait in scam sites.
Prominent hype and social proof claims ('The Better Way to Trade & Invest', 'helps over 2 million customers achieve their financial goals'), but provides no evidence, licenses, or verifiable company details.
WordPress-powered template and generic plugin errors ('Please enter CoinGecko Free Api Key to get this plugin works'), suggesting a hastily assembled website without real backend exchange integration.
Encourages users to 'merge account'—often a tactic to harvest credentials from prior users or increase urgency/friction.
Offers up to '100 USDT in rewards for Verified Users'—a typical hook to lure deposits and personal information under KYC/AML pretense.

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Registration Info

Registrar:Porkbun LLC
Registered:2025-12-09

Hosting Info

Provider:Contabo GmbH
Location:FR

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