Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have been duped. Marisks, a maritime risk services firm, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers impersonating Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. The company believes that at least one ship was deceived and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait. The warning comes as shipping traffic through the strait remains largely blocked by Iran, with approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf.
The U.S. and Israel initiated a conflict with Iran on February 28, leading to a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with bitcoin being the likely payment method. Marisks has assured that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and paying a cryptocurrency fee, vessels will be allowed to transit the strait unimpeded.