Scammers Impersonate Iranian Authorities to Target Stranded Ships with Crypto Scam

Shipping companies are being targeted by scammers posing as Iranian authorities, who are demanding crypto payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, at least one ship may have fallen victim to the scam. The scammers are sending fraudulent messages asking for bitcoin or USDT in exchange for unimpeded transit. A maritime risk services company, Marisks, has issued a warning about the scam, stating that several shipping companies have received these messages. The firm believes that at least one ship has been targeted and was fired upon while attempting to pass through the strait. The situation has arisen due to the blockade of the strait by Iran, which has resulted in roughly 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. The US has initiated a naval blockade of the strait, and Iran has proposed crypto tolls on vessels in exchange for safe transit. However, Marisks has assured that the messages are a scam and did not come from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages ask shipowners to provide documents and pay a fee in cryptocurrency, which would allegedly allow their vessels to transit the strait unimpeded.