Strait of Hormuz Scam: Crypto Payments Demanded for 'Safe Passage'

Ship owners have been targeted by fake messages asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have 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 posing as Iranian authorities, requesting 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 has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, when the US and Israel initiated a conflict in the region, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The US has since imposed a naval blockade and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade it. In response, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are a scam and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and assessing eligibility, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.