Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait.
The warning comes as shipping traffic through the strait remains largely blocked, with around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The U.S.
and Israel initiated a conflict with Iran, prompting a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. 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 eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded.