Scammers Target Shipowners with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz

Shipping companies have been receiving deceitful messages requesting crypto payments in exchange for safe passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen prey to the scam. According to a warning issued by Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, several shipping firms have been targeted by scammers posing as Iranian authorities, asking for bitcoin or USDT. The company believes that at least one ship was a victim of the scam and was fired upon while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, following the initiation of a war by the US and Israel, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The US has since implemented a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Tehran, which controls the strategic chokepoint, proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages did not originate from official Iranian sources, stating, 'These specific messages are a scam.' The fraudulent messages cited by Marisks claim, 'After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time.'