Shipping companies are being deceived by fraudulent messages requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel has 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. The company believes that at least one ship was duped 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 war by the US and Israel, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf.
In response to the US naval blockade, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks released its warning on Monday, stating that the messages were scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fake messages claimed that upon 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 at a pre-agreed time.