Scammers Target Ships Stranded by Hormuz Blockade with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for a guarantee of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. According to Reuters, Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The blockade of the strait, imposed by Iran since February 28, has resulted in approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. Following the US and Israel's military action against Iran, the US has initiated a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured shipowners that these messages are scams and do not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, the Iranian Security Services will determine the cryptocurrency fee to be paid, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.