Scammers Target Stranded Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz. At least one vessel is believed to have fallen victim to the scam, resulting in it being fired upon while attempting to navigate the strait. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning about these scams, which involve individuals posing as Iranian authorities and demanding bitcoin or USDT payments. The situation has arisen due to the blockade of the strait by Iran, which has left approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. has initiated a naval blockade of the strait, and one Iranian vessel has been seized while attempting to evade the operation. Iran had previously proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. However, Marisks has confirmed that the messages received by shipowners are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages assure recipients that upon providing documents and paying the cryptocurrency fee, their vessels will be able to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.