Scammers Target Shipping Companies with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Strait of Hormuz

Shipping companies have been receiving deceptive messages requesting crypto payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel has fallen victim to the scam. According to Reuters, Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities, asking for bitcoin or USDT. The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire 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, resulting in approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters being stranded in the Gulf. Last week, US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation. On April 9, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels in exchange for secure transit, with the spokesperson for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union suggesting that the crypto fees would likely be charged in bitcoin. Marisks released its warning on Monday, stating that the messages did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent message, cited by Marisks, read: '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.' The shipping company did not respond immediately to a request for comment.