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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for unhindered passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services firm, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities and requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The company believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since late February, following the initiation of a conflict with the US and Israel, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. Recently, the US imposed a naval blockade on the strait and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation. Iran had proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. However, Marisks has confirmed that the messages received by shipowners are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages allegedly stated that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, a fee in cryptocurrency would be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.