Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, offering 'safe passage' through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. According to a warning issued by Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, several shipping companies have received messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that at least one ship has been targeted and was fired upon while attempting to pass through the strait. 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 of the strait and has seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Iran had previously proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe transit, with fees likely to be charged in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are a scam and did not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fake messages claim that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, the Iranian Security Services will determine a fee to be paid in cryptocurrency, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.