Scammers Target Ships with Fake 'Safe Passage' Offers through Strait of Hormuz

A wave of fraudulent messages is targeting shipowners, asking for cryptocurrency payments in exchange for unhindered passage across the Strait of Hormuz, with reports suggesting at least one vessel may have fallen prey to the scam. Marisks, a Greek maritime risk services firm, has issued a warning after several shipping companies received fake messages from individuals posing as Iranian authorities, requesting bitcoin or USDT payments. The company believes that one ship may have been a victim of the scam, coming 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. This blockade was initiated after the US and Israel launched a military operation against the Middle Eastern country. In response, the US has imposed a naval blockade of the strait and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade the operation. Recently, Tehran proposed the introduction of cryptocurrency tolls for vessels seeking safe transit through the strait, with bitcoin being the likely currency for these fees. However, Marisks has stressed that the messages demanding cryptocurrency payments are scams and did not originate from official Iranian sources. The fake messages assure shipowners that upon providing the required documents and paying the specified fee in cryptocurrency, their vessels will be allowed to pass through the strait unimpeded at a pre-agreed time. The shipping company has not commented on the matter.