Scammers Target Ships Stuck in Hormuz, Demand Crypto for 'Safe Passage'

A warning has been issued to shipowners about fraudulent messages requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a maritime risk services firm, has alerted shipping companies about the scam, in which impostors posing as Iranian authorities ask for bitcoin or USDT payments. The company believes that at least one ship was duped and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait. The Strait of Hormuz has seen significant disruption to shipping traffic since the imposition of a blockade by Iran, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. and Israel initiated a conflict with Iran, prompting the blockade, and a naval blockade of the strait was ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran has proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has emphasized that the messages are scams and do not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages assure vessel owners that upon providing documents and eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing their vessel to transit the strait unimpeded.