Shipowners are being deceived by fake messages requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel has fallen victim to the scam. According to Reuters, Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers impersonating Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that at least one ship was duped and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend.
The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. and Israel initiated a war against Iran, prompting a naval blockade of the strait by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has since seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation.
Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe passage on April 9, with the spokesperson for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union suggesting that the fees would likely be paid in bitcoin. Marisks released its warning on Monday, stating that the messages were scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fake messages claimed that after providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency would be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.