Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for a safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers impersonating Iranian authorities, demanding bitcoin or USDT. The company believes that at least one ship was targeted 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, following the initiation of a conflict with the US and Israel, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf.
In response to the US naval blockade, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage. However, Marisks has confirmed that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages claim that upon providing documents and meeting eligibility criteria set by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded.
The shipping company has not responded to requests for comment.