Scammers Pose as Iranian Authorities to Extort Crypto Payments from Stranded Ships

A wave of scams is targeting shipowners stranded by the Hormuz blockade, with fraudsters posing as Iranian officials and demanding bitcoin or USDT in exchange for unhindered passage. According to reports, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to this scam, resulting in an attack while attempting to navigate the strait. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received these fake messages. The firm believes that the scammers, claiming to be Iranian authorities, have successfully extorted cryptocurrency from at least one shipowner. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since late February, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. has initiated a naval blockade, seizing an Iranian vessel that attempted to evade the operation. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. However, Marisks has confirmed that the messages asking for crypto payments are scams and do not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages typically include a promise to determine the fee in cryptocurrency after assessing the vessel's eligibility. The shipping company has not responded to requests for comment.