Scammers Target Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz, Demanding Crypto Payments

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for secure 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 firm, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. The company believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, following the initiation of a conflict with the US and Israel, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. Recently, the US imposed a naval blockade on the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Iran had proposed charging crypto tolls to vessels in exchange for safe passage, with the spokesperson for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union suggesting that the fees would likely be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources, citing a fraudulent message that requested documents and eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services before determining the crypto fee. The shipping company has not responded to requests for comment.