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

A recent wave of fraudulent messages has been targeting shipowners, offering 'safe passage' through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. According to reports, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to this scam. Marisks, a maritime risk services company, has issued a warning about these fake messages, which claim to be from Iranian authorities and demand bitcoin or USDT in exchange for unimpeded transit. The company believes that at least one ship was duped and subsequently came under fire while attempting to pass through the strait. 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. In response to the US and Israel's military actions, Iran has proposed implementing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage. The Iranian government has not commented on the scam, but Marisks has assured that the messages are not from official sources. The fraudulent messages typically include a statement such as: '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.'