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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, offering 'safe passage' through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. According to a warning issued by Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, several shipping companies have received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT. It is believed that at least one ship has been targeted and was fired upon while attempting to pass through the strait. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, imposed by Iran since February 28, has left approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. Recently, the U.S. initiated a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Tehran has proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be charged in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and paying a fee in cryptocurrency, vessels will be allowed to transit the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.