Scammers impersonating as Iran demanding crypto fees for safe Hormuz passage

Al Jazeera - Greek maritime risk management firm MARISKS has warned that unknown actors, purporting to be Iranian authorities, have delivered messages to some shipping companies demanding transit fees in cryptocurrencies in return for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

“These specific messages are a scam,” the firm said, adding they were not sent by Iranian authorities.

MARISKS said it believed that at least one vessel that tried ⁠to exit the strait on Saturday and ⁠was hit by gunfire was a victim of the fraud.

Hundreds of ships and about 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Gulf, unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz after Iran reimposed a blockade in response to the US maintaining its own blockade on Iranian ports.