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

Ship owners have been receiving fake messages asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. According to Reuters, 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. The firm believes that at least one ship has been targeted and was fired upon while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The warning comes as shipping traffic through the strait remains largely blocked by Iran, following the initiation of a war by the US and Israel on February 28. Approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters are currently stranded in the Gulf. The US has imposed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation. Previously, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has confirmed that these messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages assure recipients that upon providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.