Crypto Scam Targets Stranded Ships in Strait of Hormuz

The international shipping industry has been hit with a new wave of scams as fraudulent actors pose as Iranian authorities to demand payment in cryptocurrency for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a warning issued by maritime risk company Marisks, unknown groups have contacted shipowners claiming to represent Iranian security services and requesting transit fees in Bitcoin or USDt. These messages are allegedly being sent to shipping companies whose vessels remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed due to conflict in the Middle East. The strait is a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, previously handling around one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Marisks has stressed that these messages do not originate from Iranian authorities and are likely part of an ongoing scam. Shipping companies considering paying such fees could face serious sanctions exposure due to US and international sanctions targeting entities such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Chainalysis senior intelligence analyst Kaitlin Martin.