Scammers Target Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz

Shipping companies have been receiving deceptive messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian officials, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to this scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services firm, has issued a warning after several shipping companies reported receiving such messages, which asked for payments in bitcoin or USDT. The company believes that one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The strait has been largely blocked by Iran since late February, resulting in around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. The US has initiated a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has seized an Iranian vessel. Iran had proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claimed that after providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency would be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded.