Reports have emerged of shipowners receiving deceitful messages requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe transit across the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel believed to have fallen prey to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning about these fraudulent messages, which claim to be from Iranian authorities and demand bitcoin or USDT for safe passage. The firm believes that at least one ship has been a victim of this scam and was fired upon while attempting to navigate the strait. The warning comes as shipping traffic through the strait remains largely blocked by Iran, following the initiation of a war in the region.
Approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters are currently stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation.
Previously, Tehran proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. The alert from Marisks emphasizes that these messages are scams and do not originate from official Iranian sources.
The fraudulent messages assure vessel owners that upon providing the required documents and eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing their vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.