Shipowners are receiving fraudulent messages demanding encrypted payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and at least one may have been intercepted, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Marisks, a Greek maritime risk management services company, issued a warning that several shipping companies had received messages from scammers posing as Iranian authorities and asking for Bitcoin or USDT. The company said it believed at least one ship fell victim to the scam and was shot at while trying to cross the strait over the weekend, Reuters reported.
Maritime traffic through the strait has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a war against the Middle Eastern country. According to Reuters, around 20,000 oil tankers and other cargo ships are stuck in the Gulf.
A week ago, US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and has since seized an Iranian ship that was trying to escape the operation.
On April 9, Tehran, which controls the chokepoint, offered crypto tolls on ships in exchange for safe transit. Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exporters Union, said crypto fees would likely be charged in bitcoin.
Marisks issued its alert on Monday. Iran had no comment, Reuters added.
“These specific messages are a scam,” Marisks said, assuring that the messages did not come from official Iranian sources.
“After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by Iranian security services, we will be able to determine the fees to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your ship be able to pass through the strait unhindered at the agreed time,” the fraudulent message cited by Marisks states, according to Reuters.
The shipping company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CoinDesk.
