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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, at least one ship may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers claiming to be Iranian authorities. The scammers are demanding bitcoin or USDT in exchange for safe passage. The shipping traffic through the strait has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28. Approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters are currently stranded in the Gulf. The US has initiated a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has seized one Iranian vessel. Tehran has proposed crypto tolls on vessels in exchange for safe transit, with fees likely to be charged in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are a scam and did not come from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that after providing documents and assessing eligibility, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded. The shipping company has not responded to a request for comment.