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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in return for secure transit across the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to this scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The firm believes that one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to pass through the strait. The Strait of Hormuz has seen significantly reduced shipping traffic due to the blockade by Iran, which began on February 28. Approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters are currently stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. and Israel initiated a war in the region, prompting the blockade. In response, the U.S. has imposed a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade it. Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has alerted shipowners that these messages are scams and do not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages claim that after providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded. The shipping company has not commented on the matter.