X-Fab mimicked by fake parallel website

Europe's X-Fab Silicon Foundries SE, based in Tessenderlo, Belgium, has recently become the target of a sophisticated operation that has resulted in the creation of a fake media facade. This facade includes a website, LinkedIn and Youtube accounts, and press releases, all falsely attributed to X-Fab.

The fraudulent profile, known as BintangChip, has been meticulously crafted, mimicking X-Fab's website layout and links but with the substitution of the BintangChip name. Shockingly, the website even claims that X-Fab's CEO, Rudi de Winter, is the CEO of the non-existent BintangChip Group.

Responding to inquiries, a spokesperson for X-Fab stated, "The shadow or fake web presence by BintangChip has been set up without our knowledge. There is no affiliation between X-Fab and this entity, which, to our knowledge, does not even exist." The spokesperson further revealed that their IT security team is actively investigating the matter and taking steps to dismantle the fraudulent site, including potential legal action.

One notable discrepancy between BintangChip and X-Fab is the claim in press releases that BintangChip was established in January 2024. However, a striking similarity lies in the locations of the alleged wafer fabs, which mirror those of X-Fab, including sites in Texas, France, Germany, and Malaysia. BintangChip's website even features X-Fab's facility images with the BintangChip name superimposed.

Despite efforts to reach out to BintangChip for clarification, eeNews Europe has been met with silence, with no response to email inquiries. Interestingly, in Malay, the term "Bintang" translates to star, asterisk, or celebrity, adding a layer of intrigue to the mysterious entity. Notably, Bintang is also a well-known Indonesian beer brand, further complicating the conundrum surrounding the fabricated organization.