Scammers Impersonate Iranian Authorities, Demand Crypto for Safe Passage Through Hormuz

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for safe passage through 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 about these messages, which claim to be from Iranian authorities and demand bitcoin or USDT payments. The scam has emerged amid a blockade of the strait, which has left around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The warnings come after Iran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit through the strait. However, Marisks has confirmed that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages ask shipowners to provide documents and pay a fee in cryptocurrency, promising unimpeded passage through the strait at a pre-agreed time.