Shipping companies have been receiving deceptive messages asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. According to Reuters, Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers impersonating Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments.
The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to pass through 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, resulting in approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. In response to the US naval blockade, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe transit, with the 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, cited by Marisks, claim that after providing documents and assessing eligibility, the Iranian Security Services will determine the cryptocurrency fee to be paid, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.