Scammers Target Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz

A new scam is targeting shipowners stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, with fraudsters posing as Iranian officials and asking for bitcoin or USDT payments in exchange for 'safe passage'. According to Reuters, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to this scam, which has been flagged by Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company. The firm has issued a warning after several shipping companies received fake messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities. The messages ask for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for unimpeded transit through the strait, which has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28. With around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf, the situation has become increasingly dire. The US has imposed a naval blockade, seizing one Iranian vessel, while Tehran has proposed crypto tolls for safe transit. Marisks has assured that these messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages claim that after providing documents and assessing eligibility, the Iranian Security Services will determine a fee to be paid in cryptocurrency, allowing the vessel to transit the strait at a pre-agreed time. The shipping company has not responded to requests for comment.