Scammers Target Ships Stuck in Hormuz, Demanding Crypto for 'Safe Passage'

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for a supposedly safe 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 company, has issued a warning about the scam, stating that several shipping companies have received messages from individuals posing as Iranian authorities, asking for bitcoin or USDT. The firm 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, when the US and Israel initiated military action against the country, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The US has since imposed a naval blockade on the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade it. Last week, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe passage, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks released its warning on Monday, stating that the messages were 'a scam' and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages claim that after providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.