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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for safe passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a 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. The warning comes as shipping traffic through the strait remains largely blocked by Iran, following the initiation of a war in the region. Approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters are currently stranded in the Gulf. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation. Tehran has proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has confirmed that the messages are a scam and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages claim that upon providing documents and eligibility assessment by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to transit the strait unimpeded.