Scammers Target Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz, Demanding Crypto Payments

A wave of fraudulent messages is targeting shipowners, offering 'safe passage' through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. At least one vessel is believed to have fallen victim to this scam, according to a report by Reuters. 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 at least one ship was duped and came under fire while attempting to navigate the strait over the weekend. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since late February, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. This blockade was initiated after the U.S. and Israel launched a military operation against Iran. In response, the U.S. has imposed a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade it. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with bitcoin being the likely currency for these transactions. Marisks has confirmed that the messages demanding crypto payments are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages assure shipowners that upon providing documents and paying the cryptocurrency fee, their vessels will be allowed to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time. The shipping company has not responded to requests for comment.