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 safe transit across the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. Marisks, a maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that at least one ship was duped 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 US 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 fake messages claim that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.