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

Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for secure transit 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, 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 February 28, following the initiation of a conflict with the US and Israel, leaving approximately 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. In response to the US naval blockade, Tehran proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe passage, with bitcoin being the likely currency for these transactions. Marisks has assured shipowners that these messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that upon providing documents and meeting the eligibility criteria set by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time.