Scammers Target Stranded Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers Through Hormuz

Fraudulent messages have been circulating among shipowners, requesting crypto payments in exchange for unimpeded passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received messages from scammers pretending to be Iranian authorities, asking for payments in bitcoin or USDT. The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted 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. The U.S. has initiated a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade the operation. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with fees likely to be paid in bitcoin. Marisks has assured that the messages are scams 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 at a pre-agreed time.