Fraudulent messages are being sent to shipowners, asking for bitcoin or USDT payments in return for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel reportedly falling victim to the scam. According to Reuters, Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services company, has issued a warning about these messages, which are allegedly from scammers posing as Iranian authorities. The firm believes that at least one ship was targeted and came under fire while attempting to pass through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, leaving around 20,000 oil tankers and freighters stranded in the Gulf. The US has initiated a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel trying to evade it. Recently, Tehran proposed introducing cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit, with the fees likely to be paid in bitcoin.
Marisks has assured that the messages are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fraudulent messages claim that after providing documents and being assessed by the Iranian Security Services, a fee in cryptocurrency will be determined, allowing the vessel to pass through the strait unimpeded.