Shipowners have been receiving deceptive messages 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 company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers impersonating Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. 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 a conflict, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf.
Following a US naval blockade, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that these messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, the Iranian Security Services will determine the cryptocurrency fee, allowing vessels to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.