Scammers Impersonate Iranian Authorities to Offer Safe Passage Through Hormuz in Exchange for Cryptocurrency

A recent wave of scams has targeted shipowners, with fraudsters posing as Iranian authorities and demanding cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report by Reuters, at least one ship may have fallen victim to this scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers asking for bitcoin or USDT. The firm believes that one ship was fired upon while attempting to pass through the strait over the weekend. The situation has been exacerbated by the blockade of the strait by Iran, which has resulted in approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, initiated by President Donald Trump, has further complicated the situation. Iran had previously proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe transit, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured shipowners that the messages are a scam and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages typically request documentation and eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services, followed by a cryptocurrency payment in BTC or USDT, in exchange for unimpeded transit through the strait at a pre-agreed time.